Akiefa Berates Urhobo Leaders, UPU, Over Campaign of Calumny Against TANTITA Security
By Ezekiel Kagbala
A prominent Ijaw leader and National Vice President of the Ijaw Youth Council (IYC), Chief Frank Akiefa, has called out Urhobo leaders and the Urhobo Progress Union (UPU) for what he termed a "selfish agitation" that undermines the fight against oil theft and illegal oil bunkering being fought by Tantita Security Services Limited.
Akiefa expressed anger against the apex socio-cultural body of the Urhobo people for demanding the termination of the pipeline surveillance contract being executed within Urhobo territory by Tantita Security, a firm owned by High Chief (Dr.) Government Oweizide Ekpemupolo, popularly known as Tompolo.
In its statement addressed to the National Security Adviser and published in the Saturday Vanguard of July 5, 2025, titled “Urhobo Reject Tantita Security: Demand for Qualified Indigenous Security Outfit/Contractor to Handle Oil Facilities Surveillance in Urhobo Land”, the UPU called for the removal of Tantita from Urhobo areas and demanded a local indigenous alternative. The call was condemned by Akiefa, who described UPU as an organization without a focus and a clear sense of purpose.
Akiefa, in a statement he personally signed on Sunday, in Warri, copies of which were made available to newsmen, said, "Some greedy and selfish elements are trying to run a criminal enterprise to plunge the region into another era of crude oil thieft, insecurity, sea piracy, and environmental degradation. Rather than pushing for the expansion of the scope of the contract to benefit more person, those disgruntled elements are selling their selfishness everywhere.
"Urhobos should caution the UPU President, Ese Gam not to start a fight that the entire Urhobos can never win. Those who felt dissatisfied or seek more benefits from TANTITA Security Services should hold their respective leaders in those communities and not resort to promoting falsehood born out of selfish interest against TANTITA Security.
"Notable leaders from Urhobo mandate areas are enlisted to undertake the task of protecting the pipelines, and they are major beneficiaries. The whole process is transparent, and only criminally minded individuals will fault the process or seek the benefits of others.”
Akiefa urged the National Security Adviser (NSA), Malam Nuhu Ribadu to disregard the narratives being pushed by some of the Urhobo leaders and to continue supporting efforts aimed at eradicating oil theft and illegal bunkering.
He also said, "UPU is now a roadside organization that has lost value and credibility, some misguided individuals now use it as a mere name to hustle for their pockets".
