Let Facts, Not Vendettas, Guide Public Judgment on Tantita, Tompolo

Editorial

By Ezekiel Kagbala

The latest allegations alleging the existence of secret illegal detention facilities in Oporoza, Gbaramatu Kingdom, linked to High Chief Government Ekpemupolo (Tompolo) and Tantita Security Services Nigeria Limited, demand one thing above all else: evidence, not sensationalism.

In any democratic society governed by the rule of law, serious allegations deserve impartial investigation. Equally, equally serious is the obligation not to convict individuals or institutions in the court of public opinion without credible proof.

What is particularly striking about the allegations is that Oporoza, the headquarters of Gbaramatu Kingdom in Warri South-West Local Government Area of Delta State, is far from being a hidden settlement. It is a well-known community that has, over the years, welcomed government officials, diplomats, journalists, traditional rulers, security agencies, researchers and visitors from within and outside Nigeria.

The internationally acclaimed Amaseikumor Festival has transformed Oporoza into a cultural destination, attracting visitors from around the world. International media organisations, including CNN, have documented and reported on activities in the kingdom. The community is not an isolated enclave hidden from public scrutiny.

Recent media visits to Oporoza, by journalists who independently toured the community, reported that there was no visible evidence of any secret detention facility. Security agencies, including the Delta State Police Command and the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps, have also publicly stated that they have not received reports confirming the existence of such facilities.

Tantita Security Services has become one of the Federal Government's most significant partners in the fight against crude oil theft and pipeline vandalism. Since its engagement, Nigeria has witnessed measurable improvements in oil infrastructure protection, increased crude oil production and reduced economic sabotage across the Niger Delta. These achievements have benefited not only the region but the entire nation.

It is therefore legitimate to ask whether attempts are being made by certain interests to undermine a security outfit whose operations have disrupted illegal oil bunkering and other criminal enterprises. Those who have lost financial benefits from crude oil theft naturally have reasons to oppose stronger surveillance and enforcement.

Public discourse should never descend into personal vendettas, bitterness or campaigns of character assassination. When disagreements become personal, the danger is that public interest gives way to private grievances. Such conduct neither advances justice nor strengthens democracy.

If anyone possesses credible evidence of wrongdoing by any individual or organisation, the appropriate place to present such evidence is before the relevant law enforcement and judicial authorities. Nigeria's justice system—not media trials or social media campaigns—remains the proper avenue for determining guilt or innocence.

High Chief Government Ekpemupolo (Tompolo) deserves the same constitutional presumption of innocence afforded to every Nigerian citizen, unfounded allegations should equally be rejected.

The Niger Delta has paid dearly for years of insecurity, illegal oil bunkering and environmental devastation. Any initiative that contributes to protecting national assets while operating within the law deserves fair assessment, not premature condemnation.

We therefore encourage Tompolo and Tantita Security Services not to be distracted by unverified accusations but to remain focused on their mandate of safeguarding Nigeria's critical oil infrastructure while continuing to cooperate fully with lawful authorities and any credible investigation.

The Niger Delta Civil Society Forum, under the leadership of Comrade Ezekiel Kagbala, has expressed its continued support for the lawful efforts of Tantita Security Services in protecting Nigeria's strategic oil assets and maintaining peace in the Niger Delta.

Ultimately, justice must rest on facts not speculation; evidence not emotion; and the rule of law not campaigns of blackmail. That is the standard every Nigerian deserves.

Powered by Comrade Ezekiel Kagbala

Coordinator, Niger Delta Civil Society Forum, 

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