In a shocking revelation, Chief Government Ekpemupolo, popularly known as Tompolo, has accused the Nigerian Navy of aiding and abetting crude oil theft in the Niger Delta region .
Tompolo, the Chairman of Tantita Security Services Nigeria Limited, made these claims during a visit from the National Executive Committee of the Nigerian Bar Association.
According to Tompolo, the Nigerian Navy has been frustrating efforts to combat oil theft by providing protection for illegal oil bunkering operations and facilitating the theft of crude oil .
He cited specific incidents where Navy personnel escorted stolen crude oil shipments and intervened to ensure the safe passage of vessels carrying stolen oil.
Tompolo’s allegations come at a time when the Nigerian government has been making strides in curbing crude oil theft, with Tantita Security Services playing a key role in monitoring and protecting the country’s oil assets .
Despite these efforts, Tompolo claims that the Navy’s complicity has hindered progress.
Key Allegations:
• Navy Personnel Providing Protection for Oil Thieves: Tompolo alleges that Navy personnel have been providing security cover for vessels carrying stolen crude oil.
• Intervention to Ensure Safe Passage: Tompolo claims that Navy personnel have intervened to ensure the safe passage of vessels carrying stolen oil.
• Frustrating Efforts to Combat Oil Theft: Tompolo accuses the Navy of frustrating efforts to combat oil theft, despite the government’s efforts to curb the menace.
The Nigerian Bar Association has pledged its support for Tompolo’s efforts, with its National President, Mazi Afam Osigwe, emphasizing the need for greater cooperation between legal, governmental, and private security agencies to protect the nation’s oil assets .
