Niger Delta ex-agitators have called on the president, Bola Ahmed Tinubu, to direct the National Security Adviser to commence immediate investigation of those advocating for the decentralization of the pipeline surveillance contract awarded to Tantita Security Services.
The group, 21st Century Youths of the Niger Delta and Agitators with Conscience, 21st CYNDAC, made this call in a statement made available to TNN on Monday, by its leader, Mr Izon Ebi, wherein very strong terms, the group condemned the demand.
Describing it as politically motivated, 21st CYNDAC warned that it could trigger unrest in the region ahead of the 2027 election.
The Niger Delta group alleged that the call was in an attempt to mislead local communities, destabilize what it described as the relative peace in the area, incite violence and manipulate youths for political gain.
The group praised Tantita Security Services owned by High Chief Government Oweizidei Ekpemupolo, popularly known as Tompolo, for making significant progress in curbing oil theft and pipeline vandalism the region, as well as, creating employment opportunities for local youths and contributing to environmental restoration.
The statement: “The 21st Century Youths of Niger Delta and Agitators with Conscience (21st CYNDAC) condemns in the strongest terms the politically motivated call for the decentralisation of the pipeline surveillance contract awarded to Tantita Security Services. We can unequivocally tell that it is a political decoy to hoodwink the people of Niger Delta into another unrest towards the 2027 presidential election.
“It is so shameful to see the height of jealousy, hatred, greed, and perfidious acts displayed in the Palace of the King of Okochiri, His Royal Majesty King Ateke Tom. It is so unfortunate and shameful that King Ateke Tom allowed his reputation to be hoodwinked by these serial betrayers of the struggle and greedy personalities that are looking for funds to pacify their expensive wives and perfidious lifestyle to the detriment of their people, communities, and the Niger Delta region in particular.
“Good a thing that King Ateke Tom is in Okochiri providing leadership for his people and communities, but are these greedy, selfish, and perfidious so-called generals doing the same? The 21st CYNDAC therefore calls on Mr. President to direct the National Security Adviser to invite them to explain to the nation and the good people of the Niger Delta why they are trying to incite unrest in the Niger Delta region at this critical period that Nigerians are passing through numerous challenges and the 2027 election is by the corner.
“This is a well-orchestrated plan to hoodwink vulnerable younger ones and youths to carry arms against the federal government for their selfish gain in the name of Resource Control struggle, forgetting that we haven’t forgotten how they betrayed everyone including genuine leaders of the struggle for Amnesty without due consultation and agreement before accepting the Amnesty deal.
“They betrayed everyone as if the Amnesty Programme was the real aim and objective of the Niger Delta struggle in the first place. Tantita Security Services is a personal company of High Chief Dr. Oweizidei Government Ekpemupolo alias Tompolo. His mistake was his good heart and benevolent nature of trying to elevate the present situation of the Niger Delta region and its people. Both Boyloaf and Shoot At Sight are beneficiaries of Tompolo’s magnanimity.”
The group insisted that “decentralisation of the pipeline surveillance contract will create more problems than good because there will be more money in the wrong hands to procure more guns to dislodge their communities and assume leadership to do the real bunkering.
“We therefore call on Mr. President to ignore the call for the decentralisation of the pipeline surveillance contract because High Chief Dr. Oweizidei Government Ekpemupolo alias Tompolo and Tantita are doing the job perfectly.
“This pipeline surveillance job has been in existence since former President Goodluck Ebele Jonathan’s government, of which these so-called disgruntled and selfish so-called generals in the struggle didn’t do the job, neither carry their boys and communities along, but stayed put in Abuja. Even the Amnesty program stipends were short-paid to their fellows by these greedy, perfidious personalities.
“Tompolo and Tantita Security Services didn’t only deliver on the job, but Tompolo and Tantita have made us proud as Ijaws by restoring our degraded land and polluted rivers. Today, a good number of our jobless youths are gainfully employed because of Tantita Security Services. We really don’t know and understand this entitlement mentality as if it is their birthright, trying to make High Chief Dr. Oweizidei Government Ekpemupolo and Tantita look stupid and regret doing the right thing by carrying everyone and communities along.
“Today, the least youth employed by Tantita is paid above minimum wage. Today, our lands are clean, and our rivers and aquatic lives are better than before because of the genuine efforts of Tantita Security Services. Today, bunkering and oil theft are almost a thing of the past because of Tantita’s use of modern technology and professionalism. Tantita achievements are very clear to the blind and audible to the deaf.
“We are therefore advising President Bola Ahmed Tinubu to ignore these former bunkers turned militants that ended up betraying the struggle for Amnesty because of their greed and perfidious lifestyle. We need peace in the Niger Delta and will not support any clandestine move to arm vulnerable youths against the 2027 election because the people of the Niger Delta region stand with Mr. President and will not allow anyone to drag us back to the past. Boyloaf and Shoot Aside are being sponsored by bunkering syndicates for their selfish reasons. Niger Deltans say no to decentralisation.”
