By Suleiman Anyalewechi
Human Rights and Niger Delta Advocacy group, Warri Reclamation Trust, WRT, has petitioned the Federal Government , and all relevant authorities to urgently institute an independent, impartial , transparent and unfettered investigation into alleged operation of illegal private detention facilities , illegal possession and stockpiling of firearms , kidnapping, intimidation of civilians and occupation and displacement of indigenous communities of Warri by Government Ekpemupolo , popular as Tompolo.
In a petition signed by its Convener, MrsTsaye Mene, addressed to President Bola Tinubu, and dated August 5,2026, the WRT accused Tompolo and his pipeline surveillance company, Tantita Security Services Nigeria Ltd, as well as several others, of subjecting many Itsekiri communities and citizens to gross acts of intimidation, harassment , illegal detention ,and torture.
She alleged that several Itsekiri communities in Warri Kingdom have been forced to vacate their ancestral homes and land, and visited with violent destruction and displacement from their settlements by Tompolo and his agents.
The activist also decried the persistent interference of the Tantita Security Services owner in the traditional institutions of the Itsekiri communities, and the alleged renaming of indigenous communities leveraging the multi-billion Naira pipeline surveillance contract from the Federal Government.
While raising concern about the intimidating presence of operatives of the Tantita Security Services, Mene alleged that many innocent residents have, in recent times, been subjected to disturbing acts of dehumanization and unlawful detention by operatives of Tantita Security Services.
The latest petition is coming on the heels of an earlier alarm raised by the WRT over a dispute relating to pipeline surveillance, community rights, land ownership, political representation and the presence of competent security contractors in Itsekiri territory.
The WRT had, among other things, called for a greater participation of Itsekiri communities and citizens in matters relating to pipeline surveillance in their territory, the withdrawal of Tantita from pipeline surveillance operations in Itsekiri homelands owing to a litany of oppressive actions of Tantita against the people, especially the operation of illegal private detention facilities ,where citizens are tortured, and their land forcefully taken.
The WRT in its recent petition identified several victims of the Tantita’s oppressive actions against Itsekiri citizens to include Moses Obukokwo, Sampson Edema ,Afejuku Jolomi,and Omamuminogho Molagbemi.
The victims, according to the WRT, were arrested ,from their Tisun and Usor communities in Warri North, and whisked away to Oporoza, where they were allegedly subjected to severe acts of torture and hard labour before being set free.
The activist further alleged that the most recent incidents of intimidation and harassment involved three youth leaders from the Ijaghala community in Ugborodo namely Mayomi Ololo Abeson , Adeyemi Laju Tobi and Glory Oritsegbubemi who were on July 25 ,2026 , abducted and detained in one of the several illegal facilities set by Tompolo .
According to the Niger Delta activist, the leadership of the affected communities had petitioned the Inspector General of Police, IGP, Olatunji Disu, and other relevant authorities, demanding for an independent and transparent investigation into the allegations raised.
The WRT emphasized that an urgent inquest into the issues raised by the appropriate authorities will prevent the temptation of residents resorting to self help, a development she fears may degenerate into a full blown crisis.
According to the group, the alleged oppressive activities of Tompolo and his Tantita Security outfit are not only limited to Warri Kingdom ,but stretch to other Niger Delta communities.
The WRT also raised the cases of Balamene Karowei and Charles Korubo who were in July 2024 abducted from their homes in Yenagoa ,the Bayelsa state capital and held for several months in an Oporoza illegal detention camp.
The group, therefore, appealed to President Tinubu to direct all relevant authorities to immediately put in place machineries towards adequately investigating the allegations with a view to identifying culprits ,as well as serving justice.
Particularly, the WRT wants all the relevant authorities to beam their searchlight on the several alleged cases of enforced disappearance, kidnappings, unlawful detention of citizens, torture and acts of dehumanization, as well as alleged illegal detention facilities.
Similarly, the group urged the Government, and security agencies to provide adequate security and protection for victims, witnesses, whistleblowers and community leaders who may wish to cooperate with investigators.
The WRT further emphasized that the present petition is intended to provide the authorities with the facts on the ground, urging them to undertake an independent verification and investigation of the issues raised, pledging to make available victims, witnesses and documentary evidence to substantiate its allegations.
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