A combined photo of Tompolo and Tantita Security logo
By Our Reporter
The Warri Indigenous People’s Movement (WIPM) has criticised the recent counter-protest held in Warri by beneficiaries of Tantita Security Services, accusing the organisers of attempting to divert attention from the core concerns affecting the Itsekiri people.
The counter-protest was held days after WIPM staged a demonstration in Abuja on June 18, 2025.
During the protest, the WIPM petitioned federal authorities over alleged violations and overreach by Tantita Security Services, a pipeline surveillance firm owned by former militant leader, Oweizide Thomas Ekpemupolo, popularly known as Tompolo.
In a statement signed by its chairman, Hon. Kingsley Tenumah, and General Secretary, Comr. Monoyo Edon, WIPM clarified that their grievances are not directed at Tompolo personally or at the surveillance contract awarded to his company. They stressed that many Itsekiris are employed by Tantita and that some Itsekiri leaders had initially supported the award of the contract in the Warri region.
However, the group said the focus has now shifted due to what it claims are repeated violations of the contract terms and actions that threaten the integrity and well-being of Itsekiri communities.
The group rejected claims that their protest was motivated by ethnic bias against Tompolo, who is of Ijaw descent.
WIPM criticised the leaders of the counter-protests, particularly Esimaje Awani and the Forum of Itsekiri Cluster Coordinators, accusing them of defending Tantita for personal and financial gain rather than addressing the concerns of their people.
The group raised serious allegations against Tantita, including the reported arrest and detention of Itsekiri residents in communities like Usor and Tisun, which it said were carried out in a “Gestapo-style” manner. It also pointed to ongoing tensions in Omadino, where it claims settlements have been repeatedly attacked under the pretext of dismantling illegal bunkering operations.
According to WIPM, communities such as Kantu and Ijaghala have been forcibly taken over, with residents allegedly pressured to renounce their Itsekiri identity. The group also cited a recent incident in which Globacom technicians were arrested while installing telecom infrastructure in Kantu.
WIPM further alleged that officials of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), in collaboration with the National Boundary Adjustment Commission, manipulated ward delineation exercises. It said coordinates from communities in other states were imported into Warri’s local government areas, effectively renaming Itsekiri settlements and assigning them Ijaw identities to favour Gbaramatu Kingdom.
WIPM cited Section 257 of the Petroleum Industry Act (PIA), which outlines the responsibilities of host communities in protecting oil infrastructure. It argued that Tantita’s actions could expose Itsekiri communities to legal and financial liabilities under the law if sabotage or unrest occurs.
WIPM appealed to the federal government to consider awarding future surveillance contracts in the Warri area to competent Itsekiri firms, stressing that its opposition is not about ethnic rivalry or competition over contracts but a broader concern about the political and economic future of Itsekiri land. It cited provisions in the Petroleum Industry Act (PIA) that place the responsibility of protecting oil infrastructure on host communities and outline penalties in cases of sabotage or unrest.
The group labelled Tompolo a “sworn enemy” of the Itsekiri people and warned against renewing his company’s contract, saying it posed a threat to the region’s political and economic stability.
WIPM also condemned Itsekiri individuals who have supported Tantita or remained silent amid the alleged abuses, accusing them of greed and a lack of conscience. The movement called for transparency and accountability in the awarding and execution of pipeline surveillance contracts in the Warri area.
