𝐁𝐲 𝐎𝐠𝐡𝐞𝐧𝐞 𝐓𝐞𝐣𝐢𝐫𝐢
In a strongly worded statement made available to Nigeria Daily Chronicles, the group accused the critics of wickedness, selective amnesia, and deliberate misrepresentation of facts, despite what it described as the massive, visible, and unprecedented contributions of Tantita Security Services in transforming the Niger Delta into the long-awaited aboriginal dream of an Eldorado and Uhuru society.
The group questioned why similar outrage was never witnessed in the past when the same surveillance contract existed under previous handlers, during which period oil theft thrived, the environment was destroyed, and the people suffered in silence.
“𝙏𝙝𝙚 𝘾𝙤𝙣𝙘𝙚𝙧𝙣𝙚𝙙 𝙄𝙣𝙙𝙞𝙜𝙚𝙣𝙚𝙨 𝙤𝙛 𝘼𝙮𝙖𝙠𝙤𝙧𝙤𝙢𝙤 𝙘𝙤𝙢𝙢𝙪𝙣𝙞𝙩𝙮 𝙝𝙚𝙧𝙚𝙗𝙮 𝙞𝙨𝙨𝙪𝙚𝙨 𝙖 𝙨𝙩𝙚𝙧𝙣 𝙬𝙖𝙧𝙣𝙞𝙣𝙜 𝙩𝙤 𝙘𝙧𝙞𝙩𝙞𝙘𝙨 𝙤𝙛 𝙏𝙖𝙣𝙩𝙞𝙩𝙖 𝙎𝙚𝙘𝙪𝙧𝙞𝙩𝙮 𝙎𝙚𝙧𝙫𝙞𝙘𝙚𝙨, 𝙬𝙝𝙤𝙢 𝙬𝙚 𝙙𝙚𝙨𝙘𝙧𝙞𝙗𝙚 𝙖𝙨 𝙝𝙮𝙥𝙤𝙘𝙧𝙞𝙩𝙚𝙨 𝙥𝙧𝙚𝙩𝙚𝙣𝙙𝙞𝙣𝙜 𝙩𝙤 𝙨𝙡𝙚𝙚𝙥 𝙬𝙝𝙞𝙡𝙚 𝙥𝙧𝙤𝙜𝙧𝙚𝙨𝙨 𝙞𝙨 𝙡𝙤𝙪𝙙𝙡𝙮 𝙠𝙣𝙤𝙘𝙠𝙞𝙣𝙜,” 𝙩𝙝𝙚 𝙨𝙩𝙖𝙩𝙚𝙢𝙚𝙣𝙩 𝙧𝙚𝙖𝙙.
“𝙒𝙝𝙮 𝙬𝙚𝙧𝙚 𝙩𝙝𝙚𝙨𝙚 𝙨𝙖𝙢𝙚 𝙥𝙚𝙤𝙥𝙡𝙚 𝙨𝙞𝙡𝙚𝙣𝙩 𝙬𝙝𝙚𝙣 𝙩𝙝𝙚 𝙨𝙪𝙧𝙫𝙚𝙞𝙡𝙡𝙖𝙣𝙘𝙚 𝙘𝙤𝙣𝙩𝙧𝙖𝙘𝙩 𝙬𝙖𝙨 𝙝𝙖𝙣𝙙𝙡𝙚𝙙 𝙗𝙮 𝙤𝙩𝙝𝙚𝙧𝙨 𝙖𝙣𝙙 𝙩𝙝𝙚 𝙉𝙞𝙜𝙚𝙧 𝘿𝙚𝙡𝙩𝙖 𝙬𝙖𝙨 𝙗𝙡𝙚𝙚𝙙𝙞𝙣𝙜? 𝙒𝙝𝙮 𝙞𝙨 𝙞𝙩 𝙣𝙤𝙬 𝙖 𝙥𝙧𝙤𝙗𝙡𝙚𝙢 𝙗𝙚𝙘𝙖𝙪𝙨𝙚 𝙩𝙝𝙚 𝙘𝙤𝙣𝙩𝙧𝙖𝙘𝙩 𝙞𝙨 𝙥𝙧𝙤𝙙𝙪𝙘𝙞𝙣𝙜 𝙧𝙚𝙨𝙪𝙡𝙩𝙨?”
𝗔 𝗖𝗢𝗡𝗧𝗥𝗔𝗖𝗧 𝗧𝗛𝗔𝗧 𝗣𝗥𝗘-𝗗𝗔𝗧𝗘𝗦 𝗧𝗔𝗡𝗧𝗜𝗧𝗔, 𝗕𝗨𝗧 𝗡𝗘𝗩𝗘𝗥 𝗗𝗘𝗟𝗜𝗩𝗘𝗥𝗘𝗗 𝗥𝗘𝗦𝗨𝗟𝗧𝗦
CIA emphasized that the pipeline surveillance contract did not originate with Tantita Security Services, noting that successive administrations had awarded similar contracts in the past. However, according to the group, none of the previous arrangements delivered the level of effectiveness, environmental recovery, and community empowerment currently being witnessed.
For decades, the Niger Delta region suffered the devastating consequences of crude oil theft, illegal bunkering, and pipeline vandalism. Explosions from illegal refining sites claimed countless lives, aquatic ecosystems were destroyed, farmlands became infertile, and traditional occupations such as fishing and farming were rendered almost impossible.
“𝙒𝙝𝙚𝙣 𝙤𝙞𝙡 𝙩𝙝𝙚𝙛𝙩 𝙬𝙖𝙨 𝙖𝙩 𝙞𝙩𝙨 𝙥𝙚𝙖𝙠, 𝙬𝙝𝙚𝙣 𝙤𝙪𝙧 𝙮𝙤𝙪𝙩𝙝𝙨 𝙬𝙚𝙧𝙚 𝙙𝙮𝙞𝙣𝙜 𝙞𝙣 𝙛𝙞𝙧𝙚 𝙗𝙪𝙧𝙣𝙨, 𝙬𝙝𝙚𝙣 𝙤𝙪𝙧 𝙧𝙞𝙫𝙚𝙧𝙨 𝙬𝙚𝙧𝙚 𝙗𝙡𝙖𝙘𝙠𝙚𝙣𝙚𝙙 𝙖𝙣𝙙 𝙤𝙪𝙧 𝙛𝙖𝙧𝙢𝙡𝙖𝙣𝙙𝙨 𝙥𝙤𝙞𝙨𝙤𝙣𝙚𝙙, 𝙩𝙝𝙚𝙨𝙚 𝙨𝙖𝙢𝙚 𝙘𝙧𝙞𝙩𝙞𝙘𝙨 𝙘𝙝𝙤𝙨𝙚 𝙨𝙞𝙡𝙚𝙣𝙘𝙚 𝙗𝙚𝙘𝙖𝙪𝙨𝙚 𝙩𝙝𝙚𝙮 𝙬𝙚𝙧𝙚 𝙗𝙚𝙣𝙚𝙛𝙞𝙩𝙞𝙣𝙜 𝙦𝙪𝙞𝙚𝙩𝙡𝙮,” 𝘾𝙄𝘼 𝙨𝙩𝙖𝙩𝙚𝙙.
“𝙏𝙤𝙙𝙖𝙮, 𝙗𝙚𝙘𝙖𝙪𝙨𝙚 𝙏𝙖𝙣𝙩𝙞𝙩𝙖 𝙝𝙖𝙨 𝙘𝙝𝙖𝙣𝙜𝙚𝙙 𝙩𝙝𝙚 𝙣𝙖𝙧𝙧𝙖𝙩𝙞𝙫𝙚, 𝙩𝙝𝙚𝙮 𝙨𝙪𝙙𝙙𝙚𝙣𝙡𝙮 𝙛𝙤𝙪𝙣𝙙 𝙩𝙝𝙚𝙞𝙧 𝙫𝙤𝙞𝙘𝙚𝙨.”
According to the group, the assumption of surveillance responsibilities by Tantita Security Services marked a turning point in the Niger Delta’s long struggle with oil theft and environmental degradation.
CIA pointed to significant reductions in crude oil theft, gradual restoration of aquatic life, renewed fishing activities, and improving farmlands as clear evidence of success. Communities that once lived in fear and hopelessness are now witnessing steady recovery and renewed economic activity.
“𝙏𝙝𝙚𝙧𝙚 𝙞𝙨 𝙣𝙤 𝙘𝙤𝙢𝙢𝙪𝙣𝙞𝙩𝙮 𝙮𝙤𝙪 𝙘𝙖𝙣 𝙜𝙤 𝙩𝙤 𝙖𝙣𝙮𝙬𝙝𝙚𝙧𝙚 𝙞𝙣 𝙩𝙝𝙚 𝙉𝙞𝙜𝙚𝙧 𝘿𝙚𝙡𝙩𝙖 𝙬𝙝𝙚𝙧𝙚 𝙮𝙤𝙪 𝙬𝙞𝙡𝙡 𝙣𝙤𝙩 𝙨𝙚𝙚 𝙖𝙩 𝙡𝙚𝙖𝙨𝙩 𝙤𝙣𝙚 𝙮𝙤𝙪𝙩𝙝 𝙗𝙚𝙣𝙚𝙛𝙞𝙩𝙞𝙣𝙜 𝙙𝙞𝙧𝙚𝙘𝙩𝙡𝙮 𝙛𝙧𝙤𝙢 𝙩𝙝𝙞𝙨 𝙘𝙤𝙣𝙩𝙧𝙖𝙘𝙩,” 𝙩𝙝𝙚 𝙨𝙩𝙖𝙩𝙚𝙢𝙚𝙣𝙩 𝙣𝙤𝙩𝙚𝙙.
“𝙏𝙝𝙚𝙨𝙚 𝙖𝙧𝙚 𝙣𝙤𝙩 𝙥𝙧𝙤𝙥𝙖𝙜𝙖𝙣𝙙𝙖 𝙖𝙘𝙝𝙞𝙚𝙫𝙚𝙢𝙚𝙣𝙩𝙨. 𝙏𝙝𝙚𝙨𝙚 𝙖𝙧𝙚 𝙧𝙚𝙖𝙡𝙞𝙩𝙞𝙚𝙨 𝙫𝙞𝙨𝙞𝙗𝙡𝙚 𝙞𝙣 𝙤𝙪𝙧 𝙘𝙧𝙚𝙚𝙠𝙨, 𝙧𝙞𝙫𝙚𝙧𝙨, 𝙖𝙣𝙙 𝙫𝙞𝙡𝙡𝙖𝙜𝙚𝙨”
The group also referenced reports indicating a notable increase in Nigeria’s crude oil production levels, attributing the improvement largely to effective surveillance, intelligence-driven operations, and the dismantling of illegal bunkering networks.
𝗬𝗢𝗨𝗧𝗛 𝗘𝗠𝗣𝗟𝗢𝗬𝗠𝗘𝗡𝗧 𝗔𝗡𝗗 𝗥𝗘𝗚𝗜𝗢𝗡𝗔𝗟 𝗜𝗡𝗖𝗟𝗨𝗦𝗜𝗢𝗡
Beyond environmental protection, CIA highlighted the human capital impact of Tantita’s operations, stressing that thousands of youths from across the Niger Delta, cutting across ethnic and communal lines, have been gainfully employed.
Women, according to the group, have also benefited through support initiatives, while local institutions and communities have received various forms of assistance.
“𝙏𝙝𝙞𝙨 𝙞𝙨 𝙣𝙤𝙩 𝙖𝙣 𝙄𝙟𝙖𝙬 𝙥𝙧𝙤𝙟𝙚𝙘𝙩. 𝙏𝙝𝙞𝙨 𝙞𝙨 𝙣𝙤𝙩 𝙖𝙣 𝙚𝙩𝙝𝙣𝙞𝙘 𝙖𝙜𝙚𝙣𝙙𝙖. 𝙄𝙩 𝙞𝙨 𝙖 𝙧𝙚𝙜𝙞𝙤𝙣𝙖𝙡 𝙨𝙩𝙖𝙗𝙞𝙡𝙞𝙯𝙖𝙩𝙞𝙤𝙣 𝙖𝙣𝙙 𝙚𝙢𝙥𝙤𝙬𝙚𝙧𝙢𝙚𝙣𝙩 𝙞𝙣𝙞𝙩𝙞𝙖𝙩𝙞𝙫𝙚,” 𝘾𝙄𝘼 𝙨𝙩𝙧𝙚𝙨𝙨𝙚𝙙.
“𝘼𝙡𝙡 𝙩𝙧𝙞𝙗𝙚𝙨 𝙞𝙣 𝙩𝙝𝙚 𝙉𝙞𝙜𝙚𝙧 𝘿𝙚𝙡𝙩𝙖 𝙖𝙧𝙚 𝙥𝙖𝙧𝙩𝙞𝙘𝙞𝙥𝙖𝙩𝙞𝙣𝙜, 𝙖𝙡𝙡 𝙘𝙤𝙢𝙢𝙪𝙣𝙞𝙩𝙞𝙚𝙨 𝙖𝙧𝙚 𝙛𝙚𝙚𝙡𝙞𝙣𝙜 𝙩𝙝𝙚 𝙞𝙢𝙥𝙖𝙘𝙩, 𝙖𝙣𝙙 𝙖𝙡𝙡 𝙝𝙤𝙪𝙨𝙚𝙝𝙤𝙡𝙙𝙨 𝙖𝙧𝙚 𝙗𝙚𝙩𝙩𝙚𝙧 𝙛𝙤𝙧 𝙞𝙩.
The group warned against attempts to ethnicize or politicize the contract, describing such narratives as dangerous and counterproductive to regional peace and development.
𝗢𝗡 𝗙𝗔𝗜𝗥𝗡𝗘𝗦𝗦, 𝗢𝗪𝗡𝗘𝗥𝗦𝗛𝗜𝗣, 𝗔𝗡𝗗 𝗥𝗘𝗦𝗣𝗢𝗡𝗦𝗜𝗕𝗜𝗟𝗜𝗧𝗬
Addressing criticisms directed at High Chief Government Oweizide Ekpemupolo (Tompolo), Engr. Mathew Tonlagha, and Engr. Kestin Pondi, CIA emphasized that leadership and ownership naturally come with greater responsibility, risk, and reward.
According to the group, those who fought for stability in the Niger Delta, advocated for local participation, and took the risk of delivering where others failed cannot be equated with opportunists seeking benefits without sacrifice.
“𝗜𝘁 𝗶𝘀 𝗼𝗻𝗹𝘆 𝗳𝗮𝗶𝗿 𝘁𝗵𝗮𝘁 𝘁𝗵𝗼𝘀𝗲 𝘄𝗵𝗼 𝗯𝗼𝗿𝗲 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗯𝘂𝗿𝗱𝗲𝗻, 𝘁𝗼𝗼𝗸 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗿𝗶𝘀𝗸𝘀, 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗱𝗲𝗹𝗶𝘃𝗲𝗿𝗲𝗱 𝗿𝗲𝘀𝘂𝗹𝘁𝘀 𝘀𝗵𝗼𝘂𝗹𝗱 𝗵𝗮𝘃𝗲 𝗹𝗲𝗮𝗱𝗲𝗿𝘀𝗵𝗶𝗽 𝗿𝗼𝗹𝗲𝘀 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗱𝗲𝘀𝗲𝗿𝘃𝗲𝗱 𝗯𝗲𝗻𝗲𝗳𝗶𝘁𝘀,” 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝘀𝘁𝗮𝘁𝗲𝗺𝗲𝗻𝘁 𝘀𝗮𝗶𝗱.
“𝗪𝗵𝗮𝘁 𝘄𝗲 𝗮𝗿𝗲 𝘄𝗶𝘁𝗻𝗲𝘀𝘀𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝘁𝗼𝗱𝗮𝘆 𝗱𝗶𝗱 𝗻𝗼𝘁 𝗵𝗮𝗽𝗽𝗲𝗻 𝗯𝘆 𝗮𝗰𝗰𝗶𝗱𝗲𝗻𝘁. 𝗜𝘁 𝗶𝘀 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗽𝗿𝗼𝗱𝘂𝗰𝘁 𝗼𝗳 𝗹𝗼𝗰𝗮𝗹 𝗸𝗻𝗼𝘄𝗹𝗲𝗱𝗴𝗲, 𝗰𝗼𝗺𝗺𝘂𝗻𝗶𝘁𝘆 𝘁𝗿𝘂𝘀𝘁, 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝘆𝗲𝗮𝗿𝘀 𝗼𝗳 𝘀𝗮𝗰𝗿𝗶𝗳𝗶𝗰𝗲
𝐂𝐎𝐍𝐃𝐄𝐌𝐍𝐈𝐍𝐆 𝐈𝐍𝐆𝐑𝐀𝐓𝐈𝐓𝐔𝐃𝐄 𝐀𝐍𝐃 𝐁𝐋𝐀𝐂𝐊𝐌𝐀𝐈𝐋
CIA expressed disappointment at individuals, some of whom it claimed are current beneficiaries of the surveillance arrangement, who have turned around to attack Tantita and its leadership.
The group described such actions as ingratitude, blackmail, and sabotage, warning that tearing down a functioning system would only return the region to chaos.
“𝘿𝙞𝙨𝙖𝙜𝙧𝙚𝙚𝙢𝙚𝙣𝙩 𝙞𝙨 𝙝𝙚𝙖𝙡𝙩𝙝𝙮, 𝙗𝙪𝙩 𝙞𝙣𝙜𝙧𝙖𝙩𝙞𝙩𝙪𝙙𝙚 𝙞𝙨 𝙙𝙖𝙣𝙜𝙚𝙧𝙤𝙪𝙨,” 𝘾𝙄𝘼 𝙨𝙩𝙖𝙩𝙚𝙙.
“𝙏𝙝𝙚 𝙉𝙞𝙜𝙚𝙧 𝘿𝙚𝙡𝙩𝙖 𝙘𝙖𝙣𝙣𝙤𝙩 𝙖𝙛𝙛𝙤𝙧𝙙 𝙩𝙤 𝙨𝙖𝙘𝙧𝙞𝙛𝙞𝙘𝙚 𝙥𝙧𝙤𝙜𝙧𝙚𝙨𝙨 𝙤𝙣 𝙩𝙝𝙚 𝙖𝙡𝙩𝙖𝙧 𝙤𝙛 𝙥𝙚𝙧𝙨𝙤𝙣𝙖𝙡 𝙜𝙧𝙪𝙙𝙜𝙚𝙨 𝙖𝙣𝙙 𝙥𝙤𝙡𝙞𝙩𝙞𝙘𝙖𝙡 𝙜𝙖𝙢𝙚𝙨.”
𝗔 𝗖𝗔𝗟𝗟 𝗧𝗢 𝗣𝗥𝗢𝗧𝗘𝗖𝗧 𝗣𝗥𝗢𝗚𝗥𝗘𝗦𝗦
The group urged stakeholders, activists, and community leaders to focus on strengthening the gains recorded so far rather than undermining them. Where improvements are needed, CIA said, they should be addressed constructively and in good faith.
“𝙐𝙣𝙙𝙚𝙧 𝙏𝙖𝙣𝙩𝙞𝙩𝙖 𝙎𝙚𝙘𝙪𝙧𝙞𝙩𝙮 𝙎𝙚𝙧𝙫𝙞𝙘𝙚𝙨 𝙉𝙞𝙜𝙚𝙧𝙞𝙖 𝙇𝙞𝙢𝙞𝙩𝙚𝙙, 𝙩𝙝𝙚 𝙉𝙞𝙜𝙚𝙧 𝘿𝙚𝙡𝙩𝙖 𝙝𝙖𝙨 𝙬𝙞𝙩𝙣𝙚𝙨𝙨𝙚𝙙 𝙚𝙣𝙫𝙞𝙧𝙤𝙣𝙢𝙚𝙣𝙩𝙖𝙡 𝙧𝙚𝙘𝙤𝙫𝙚𝙧𝙮, 𝙟𝙤𝙗 𝙘𝙧𝙚𝙖𝙩𝙞𝙤𝙣, 𝙮𝙤𝙪𝙩𝙝 𝙚𝙢𝙥𝙤𝙬𝙚𝙧𝙢𝙚𝙣𝙩, 𝙞𝙣𝙨𝙩𝙞𝙩𝙪𝙩𝙞𝙤𝙣𝙖𝙡 𝙨𝙪𝙥𝙥𝙤𝙧𝙩, 𝙖𝙣𝙙 𝙞𝙣𝙘𝙧𝙚𝙖𝙨𝙚𝙙 𝙣𝙖𝙩𝙞𝙤𝙣𝙖𝙡 𝙤𝙞𝙡 𝙤𝙪𝙩𝙥𝙪𝙩,” 𝙩𝙝𝙚 𝙨𝙩𝙖𝙩𝙚𝙢𝙚𝙣𝙩 𝙘𝙤𝙣𝙘𝙡𝙪𝙙𝙚𝙙.
“𝙃𝙞𝙨𝙩𝙤𝙧𝙮 𝙬𝙞𝙡𝙡 𝙟𝙪𝙙𝙜𝙚 𝙗𝙮 𝙧𝙚𝙨𝙪𝙡𝙩𝙨, 𝙖𝙣𝙙 𝙩𝙝𝙚 𝙧𝙚𝙨𝙪𝙡𝙩𝙨 𝙖𝙧𝙚 𝙫𝙞𝙨𝙞𝙗𝙡𝙚.”
CIA reaffirmed its support for High Chief Government Oweizide Ekpemupolo (Tompolo), Engr. Mathew Tonlagha, Engr. Kestin Pondi, and Tantita Security Services, calling on critics to cease their attacks and desist from politicizing a contract that has brought stability and hope to the region.
“𝗔𝘀 𝗖𝗼𝗻𝗰𝗲𝗿𝗻𝗲𝗱 𝗜𝗻𝗱𝗶𝗴𝗲𝗻𝗲𝘀 𝗼𝗳 𝗔𝘆𝗮𝗸𝗼𝗿𝗼𝗺𝗼, 𝘄𝗲 𝘀𝘁𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗳𝗶𝗿𝗺𝗹𝘆 𝗳𝗼𝗿 𝘁𝗿𝘂𝘁𝗵, 𝗳𝗮𝗶𝗿𝗻𝗲𝘀𝘀, 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗰𝗼𝗻𝘁𝗶𝗻𝘂𝗲𝗱 𝗱𝗲𝘃𝗲𝗹𝗼𝗽𝗺𝗲𝗻𝘁 𝗼𝗳 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗡𝗶𝗴𝗲𝗿 𝗗𝗲𝗹𝘁𝗮. 𝗣𝗿𝗼𝗴𝗿𝗲𝘀𝘀 𝗺𝘂𝘀𝘁 𝗯𝗲 𝗽𝗿𝗼𝘁𝗲𝗰𝘁𝗲𝗱, 𝗻𝗼𝘁 𝗱𝗲𝘀𝘁𝗿𝗼𝘆𝗲𝗱.”
Social Plugin