The Defence Headquarters (DHQ) has dismissed allegations from Tantita Security Services Nigeria Limited (TSSNL) that the Nigerian Navy is hindering efforts to combat crude oil theft, labeling them as “cheap blackmail.”
The Chairman of TSSNL, Government Ekpemupolo, also known as Tompolo, made these claims during a meeting with the national leadership of the Nigerian Bar Association on Monday.
Tompolo said, “While doing this work, we have stepped on a lot of toes of people over there in Lagos and Abuja. We have stepped on a lot of toes. As I am here, after my court cases, I cannot travel anywhere because of me and the key people (barons) fighting this battle.
“Some few days back, our people intercepted a vessel in Port Harcourt, where the Nigerian Navy was shooting at Tantita Security, with police, Department of State Services and Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps.”
In response, the Director of Defence Media Operations, Maj. Gen. Edward Buba, addressed journalists on Thursday in Abuja, calling the allegation “laughable.”
He stated, “The military always seeks cooperation from all stakeholders in the ongoing fight against crude oil theft in the Niger Delta, not conflict.
“That is what Nigeria wants. We want to increase the crude oil production of our nation and not all this cheap fighting.
“We are going to continue to try to work together with all partners, but all this cheap blackmail—we should move past that in the interest of our nation.
“We will work together with all partners, and I think that all this cheap blackmail should stop because the effort of our Navy is obvious to all.”
Highlighting the military’s achievements, Buba noted that troops of Operation Delta Safe had apprehended 51 suspected oil thieves and recovered stolen crude worth ₦921.8 million within the last week.
He disclosed that troops had also dismantled 56 illegal refining sites, seizing 78 crude oil cooking ovens, 21 dugout pits, 56 boats, 56 drums, and 26 storage tanks.
Recovered items included two speedboats, one barge, two tricycles, one pumping machine, two walkie-talkies, two outboard engines, nine mobile phones, and 12 vehicles.
“Troops recovered 872,070 litres of stolen crude oil and 67,985 litres of illegally refined AGO,” Buba said.
He further emphasized the military’s focus on combating terrorism nationwide: “Troops have also exerted significant military power on areas in which the terrorists are hibernating. Accordingly, the Air Force has been striking the terrorist enclaves with air attacks.”
