A Coalition of civil society organisations for human rights has accused Chief Oweizidei Thomas Ekpemupolo, otherwise known as Tompolo, and his company, Tantita Security Services Nigeria Limited, of alleged human rights violations, torture the Niger Delta region.
The Coalition during a peaceful protest at Shoprite in Alausa, accused Tompolo of setting up illegal detention centre in the region.
The Convener of the Coalition, Comrade Abe Emmanuel, in a statement, urged President Bola Tinubu to take swift action to prevent further atrocities.
He said they have received numerous petitions and reports of torture, arbitrary arrest, and detention of innocent citizens in an illegal centre.
They also questioned whether such actions are part of Tantita Security Services’ duty to protect pipelines.
In the statement, the Coalition cited the case of Jolomi Abechukwu from Tisin Community, who claimed to have been arrested alongside his friend Bade and taken to an alleged camp and illegal detention facility in Oporoza. They were arrested on December 2, 2024, and released in January 2025.
Read the full text of the statement
“As law abiding youths of Nigeria, we do not want to believe that the pipeline surveillance contract, gives impetus to the security company to arrogate arrest and detention powers reserved only for the security apparatchik of Nigeria.
“These unlawful arrests violate the express provisions of chapter iv of the 1999 Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria (as amended) and the express provisions of the African Charter on Human and People’s Rights.
“We are drawing the attention of the federal government to this anomaly with call on international organizations to help protect the rights of Nigerian youths spread across Nigeria because if this situation is not investigated and arrested, Youths living in the Niger Delta region will continue to suffer the inhumane and unconstitutional treatment meted out by the Tantita Security Services Limited.
“Lastly, we do not want to believe that the President Bola Ahmed Tinubu led administration which is fast building a reputation for due process, is aware of these heinous crimes against humanity.”
The Coalition urged the President to investigate the allegations promptly to save innocent citizens from further mistreatment by Tantita Security Services.
Effort to reach Tompolo or his agent for a reaction failed.
