*SAYS CONTINUED DETENTION OF IT’S FIVE BRAVE MEN, SELFLESS NIGERIANS BY NIGERIAN NAVY A DISSERVICE TO THE NATION

Tantita Security Services Nigeria Limited, a company owned by a former leader of the Movement for the Emancipation of Niger Delta (MEND), High Chief Government Oweizide Ekpemupolo, (aka Tompolo) fighting crude oil thieves in the oil rich Niger Delta oil region, on Friday, September 1st, 2023, hit the Nigerian Navy very hard for abandoning their statutory duties and urged the Navy to stop the blackmail, harassment of Tantita security men and the misinformation of the general public.

Tantita Security Service Nigeria Limited made it clear in a statement on Friday that its men were never involved in crude oil theft as alleged by the Nigerian Navy

In a statement by the company sent to Areanewsng.com online Newspaper, dated 1st September, 2023 and entitled; THE ARREST OF TANTITA OPERATIVES AND PARADE BY THE NIGERIAN NAVY – A TRAGICOMEDY OF ERRORS, read thus:

Yesterday the 31st of August 2023 the world woke up to a news story credited to the Commander, NNS BEECROFT of the Nigeria Navy, Commodore Kolawole Olumide Oguntuga, that the Nigerian Navy arrested four Tantita personnel for alleged crude oil theft. It would have been comedy, if it was not also tragedy.

The Navy is a constitutional institution mandated to keep Nigeria’s seaward borders safe from invasion, criminality and free for economic activities. Tantita respects the institution and its constitutional mandate. And it was out of that respect that a couple of weeks ago when there was a face off between the service and Tantita over the MT Praisel, our organisation preferred to leave the Nigerian Navy to have the last word on the issue. It was our belief at the time that the matter was a misunderstanding which could have been better handled for the good of the nation and the common objective of Tantita and the Navy – the prevention of economic sabotage by oil thieves plying their nefarious trade on our nation’s waterways.

However the present incident, coming barely three weeks after, does not seem to support that notion. What seems to be playing is a poorly written tragicomedy. The Nigerian Navy’s story is that in the early hours of August 29, 2023 there was an attempt by Tantita operatives to steal crude which they foiled. They claim to have been responding to distress calls from youths in Itolou Community in the Lekki axis of Lagos, and “reviewing the information, Naval patrol teams immediately launched a response operation. Upon arrival at the scene, the Naval team met 4 individuals dressed in black polo shirts with TANTITA inscribed on the back, trying to recover a dismantled outboard engine from a local. The team recovered the engine and apprehended the 4 Tantita Employees.”

According to the Nigerian Navy’s statement, “It was after this arrest that the patrol team realized that the 4 individuals are part of a movement of a large wooden boat laden with 11 x 1000L Geepee tanks with product suspected to be stolen crude oil.”

So it would be seen that at the time of the arrest, the only crime that the Tantita operatives were alleged to have committed was trying to recover a dismantled outboard engine. Thus, recovering outboard engines is now a crime. More interesting is the absence of a link between the outboard engine recovery story and the sudden epiphany – the realization by the navy patrol team that the four individuals they arrested are part of a movement of a large wooden boat at sea carrying stolen crude oil. The disjoint in the story is jarring.

On the other hand, this is what happened in fact. On Monday the 28th of August 2023 at about 0130hours a Tantita Security Services Patrol team operating in the Ondo State area received credible intelligence that a motorised wooden boat was illegally loading crude oil from an Offshore Oil Well Jacket – in fact the same Well Jacket in OML 110 operated by Cavendish Petroleum Nigeria Limited, where the MT TURA II was caught stealing Crude Oil a few months ago.

An advance team was dispatched to find the wooden boat while a back up team consisting of Nigeria Civil Defence and Security Corps (NSCDC) component of the Government Security Agencies (GSA) was assembled to follow through on the lead. While we cannot name the NSCDC personnel for obvious reasons, they were six in number and our personnel were eight not four in number. The advance team with the help of local fisherfolk was able to determine that the motorised wooden boat was heading in the direction of Lagos and gave hot pursuit. Upon noticing the approaching Tantita teams the crew of the motorised wooden boat abandoned the wooden boat for their speed boat. One team of Tantita and NSCDC personnel boarded the wooden boat to secure the evidence while another team gave it a hot pursuit.

There is video evidence of the Tantita team together with NSCDC personnel coming alongside the wooden boat, boarding and attempting to secure the boat.

The video also shows the Tantita crew trying to secure the wooden boat which was taking in water (this could have resulted from an attempt to scuttle the boat by the escaping crew; anyone who understands Yoruba can listen in on the conversations).

Surprisingly the escaping crew of the motorised wooden boat fled in the direction of the Nigerian Navy Forward Operation Base at Ibeju-Lekki, so the Tantita and NSCDC personnel followed in hot pursuit believing that the criminals would meet their Waterloo there. They were wrong. Instead of the fleeing crew being arrested, it was the Tantita personnel who came down to apprehend the fleeing crew that was arrested. After arresting Tantita personnel and freeing the crew, the Nigerian Navy personnel then went to the motorised wooden boat and drove out the combined Tantita/GSA team trying to keep the boat and the evidence afloat.

The Nigerian Navy press release was nothing but a smear campaign, the Navy has been sharing pictures in social media of the Tantita staff in their custody in various shades of undress but kept silent about the names of the boat crew whom they were chasing? In short, where is the crew that the Tantita personnel chased into Ibeju Lekki?

Most importantly, where is the boat now? You can clearly see the boat in the video provided below. Did the Nigerian Navy secure the boat? Can the Nigerian Navy explain the whereabouts of the motorised wooden boat? They were the last seen with the boat.

Nigerians can see why we are forced to say that the Nigerian Navy’s press release was nothing but a smear campaign against Tantita and possibly a cover up. Is it possible that the Nigerian Navy deploys costly assets in these days of expensive petrol/diesel to respond communal distress calls involving commercial disputes as to ownership of outboard engines? Again, let us assume for the sake of argument that the distress call was with respect to shooting in Itolou community in Lekki area of Lagos State, what became of that investigation? Can the Navy tell the nation, after four days of investigation, who was shooting?

The time frames here are important. Tantita patrol team took off at 0130hrs (1:30 at night) on Monday 28th August 2023, and spotted the wooden boat at approximately 1400hours (2 in the afternoon) same Monday 28th August 2023 and were arrested by the Navy a few hours later on Monday 28th of August 2023. Why then did the Navy press release say it arrested Tantita personnel on Tuesday 29th August 2023? Why is the Navy saying it arrested 4 persons when in fact it arrested 5?

The Nigerian Navy is quite good at publicising videos of their personnel boarding vessels suspected of conveying illicit crude and refined products. Where is the Navy’s video of boarding this wooden boat and arresting the Tantita personnel? How do you arrest oil thieves you claimed were using a wooden boat to steal crude oil, on land? If indeed Tantita personnel were stealing crude with a boat, why did they need to abandon their wooden boat laden with crude oil, tens of nautical miles away from the crime scene to recover a dismantled outboard engine when the wooden boat had working engines? There are too many gaps in the Navy press release.

In one breathe the Nigerian Navy is saying Tantita employees were caught trying to steal an outboard engine and in another breathe they are saying the Tantita operatives were arrested for trying to forcibly employ the owner of the boat to do their bidding. Quite interesting.

The arrest for four days and parade of Tantita staff by the Nigerian Navy as common criminals is to be deprecated by all right thinking members of society; at a time when our nation is in dire straits with the unparalleled loss of revenue from a monocultural export-based economy, these family men put their lives at risk for the good of the nation and are now being made to suffer ridicule for doing the right thing. It serves to demoralise good men everywhere who have sought and are seeking to do something to better our nation.

High Chief Government Oweizide Ekpemupolo, (aka Tompolo) and his men on duty 

As soon as these men were arrested the management of Tantita reached out to the Nigerian Navy seeking clarification of the situation, for four days the Navy said they were investigating and that the men would be released. We now have the outcome of their investigation in that poorly digested press release.

Environmental right activist, Chief (Comrade) Sheriff Mulade today said the people of Niger Delta region are suffering from “Sachoma Cancer”. He attributed the cause of the new disease to gas flaring and illegal oil exploration activities in the region.

Chief Mulade said the people are suffering the dreaded disease without their knowledge.

Mulade disclosed this during a lecture he delivered at the just concluded OML42 Youth Forum held in Effurun, Uvwie Local Government Area of Delta State.

Chief Mulade who is the Coordinator, Centre for Peace&Environmental Justice,CEPEJ said,”You need opthalmologist to help you diagnose to enable you get it. It’s a very serious sickness that’s around the environment.”

He said the people of the Niger Delta need to stop or reduce the rate of gas flaring and illegal oil exploration activities in the region.

Chief Mulade also said an awareness campaign need to be created for the people to be aware of the dangers gas flaring and illegal oil exploration activities has done to their health and bodies.

“Our people need to be aware so that they don’t think it’s just one of those common sickness. That’s why we are also trying to create some level of awareness so that they can have deep insights to it “.

Chief Mulade enjoined the people of the Niger Delta region to be extremely careful saying,”it’s no longer about the environment. It’s about our health now.

“We as a people that are involved in it, must stop it for the safety of our lives and our people.”

While noting that the environment is the right, heritage and pride of the people of the Niger Delta, Chief Mulade warned that if they destroy it, they destroy their future.

Chief Mulade explained that they’ve carried out researches especially in areas where there are sooth.

He said when they visited some hospitals, they discovered some persons from the region were suffering from Sachoma Cancer.

“When we go deeper, we were to discover that it’s as a result of gas flaring and its continued effect on our people.”

He said most of the hospitals cannot treat Sachoma Cancer but can only attend to issues of malaria or other ailments because they cannot detect the disease(Sachoma Cancer).

He explained the few hospitals within the region that could detect the disease will only refer their patients to the University of Nigeria Teaching Hospital,UNTH, Enugu or Lagos State University Teaching Hospital to treatment.

Chief Mulade said even at that, the hospitals do not know the cure of the disease but can only provide some remedy or fly the person abroad for further medical treatment.

Chief Mulade said patients need to go through several machines that will be avle to detect the diseases in their bodies.

Chief Mulade said government must do the needful stressing,”This is a big problem” just as he called on the oil producing States in the Niger Delta region to provide some of the equipments for hospitals like DELSUTH Oghara in their domains to cushion the effect of the disease on their people.

He insisted that a poor man from major oil state cannot struggle from here to Enugu or LUTH in Lagos.

*48 hrs for diplomat to leave Niger: You don’t have such legal right, France tells junta

France refused the demand, saying the military rulers had no legal right to make such an order.

Niger’s new military rulers have also been engaged in a political battle with Paris, and stripped France’s ambassador of diplomatic immunity and ordered police to expel him, according to a letter seen Thursday by AFP.

The envoy “no longer enjoys the privileges and immunities attached to his status as member of the diplomatic personnel in the French Embassy,” according to their letter, dated Tuesday, to the foreign ministry in Paris.

According to VOA, relations with France spiraled downwards after the July coup when Paris stood by Bazoum and refused to recognise Niger’s new rulers.

Last Friday, the authorities gave French envoy Sylvain Itte 48 hours to leave the country.

France refused the demand, saying the military rulers had no legal right to make such an order.

French military spokesperson Colonel Pierre Gaudilliere on Thursday warned that “the French military forces are ready to respond to any upturn in tension that could harm French diplomatic and military premises in Niger.”

France has around 1,500 troops in Niger, many of them stationed at an airbase near the capital, to help fight a jihadist insurgency in Niger.

On Aug. 3, Niger’s new rulers denounced military agreements with France, a move that the government in Paris has also ignored on the grounds of legitimacy.

An organization set up after the coup named the Patriotic Front for Niger Sovereignty (FPS) has led public demands for the coup leaders to take a hard line.

It is calling for a “massive” march next Saturday on the French base, followed by a sit-in until the troops leave.

Dispatch of troops

A landlocked former French colony in the heart of the Sahel, Niger is battling two jihadist insurgencies — a spill over in southeastern Niger from a long-running conflict in neighboring Nigeria, and an offensive in the southwest by militants crossing from Mali and Burkina Faso.

Bazoum came to office in 2021 after democratic elections — a watershed in a country that had had no peaceful transition of power since independence from France in 1960.

He suffered two attempted coups before finally being toppled by members of his own guard.

ECOWAS responded by warning it could intervene militarily to restore civilian rule if efforts to end the crisis diplomatically fail.

Swift to support their military comrades in Niger, Mali and Burkina have said that any such operation would be deemed a “declaration of war” against them.

Burkina Faso has approved a draft law authorizing the dispatch of troops to Niger, according to a government statement in Ouagadougou on Thursday.

Chairman of Warri South Local Government Area, Dr. Michael Tidi, has commended Governor Sheriff Oborevwrori led Delta State Executive Council, for approving the reconstruction of some roads in Warri, saying the roads are strategic to the socio – economic revival of the Oil City.

The Delta State Executive Council, presided over by Governor Sheriff Oborevwrori, at his inaugural meeting held in Asaba Wednesday August 30, approved the reconstruction of Upper – Lower Erejuwa Road, rehabilitation of Esisi Road from Warri – Sapele Road to Estate Roundabout with spur, to Nana College, linking Ajamimogha, all in Warri City centre.

Chairman of Warri South Local Government Area, Dr. Michael Tidi, who was apparently delighted with the announcement, stated Wednesday night, that Governor Oborevwrori, has begun his promise to bring back the lost glory of Warri, with the planned reconstruction of the aforementioned roads.

The Warri South Council Chief Executive, recalled several remedial works done by his administration with limited resources, through direct labour, to make the Esisi Road and Estate Roundabout motorable.

According to Dr. Tidi, the Upper – Lower Erejuwa Road constructed several decades ago by the late Samuel Ogbemudia administration of the defunct Bendel State, Esisi Road and Ajamimogha, connect major markets and other vital commercial investments in Warri, which is the economic nerve center of Delta state.

He called on residents of Warri, particularly people of the area where the roads will be reconstructed, to support the actualization, expressing optimism that Warri will witness the M.O.R.E agenda of Governor Oborevwrori.

Rwanda and Cameroon have carried out some major changes in reaction to the military coup that sacked President Ali Bongo from power in Gabon.

The coup which took place on Tuesday night shocked the world and forced many nations, including the United Nations and the African Union, to condemn the actions of the military.

The coup in Gabon was the latest in a series of military coups that have seen democratically elected leaders removed from the seat of power in Niger Republic, Mali, Sudan, Burkina Faso, and Guinea-Bissau.

According to the News Times (Rwanda), President Kagame has approved the retirement of several RDF generals, including senior presidential advisor on security matters, Gen. James Kabarebe.

The senior military officers also include Gen Fred Ibingira, Lt Gen Charles Kayonga, Lt Gen Frank Mushyo Kamanzi, Maj Gen Martin Nzaramba, Maj Gen Eric Murokore, Maj Gen Augustin Turagara, Maj Gen Charles Karamba, Maj Gen Albert Murasira, Brig Gen Chris Murari, Brig Gen Didace Ndahiro, and Brig Gen Emmanuel Ndahiro.

No reason was given for their unplanned retirement, only that it is suspected to help arrest the whirlwind of military coups currently spreading within the African continent.

In Cameroon, President Paul Biya, who has been in power since 1975 to help prevent his country from being on the coup list, decided to reshuffle the military with new appointments.

An official document coming from the president himself made its way to Twitter.

The document is in French, the official language of communication and instruction in Cameroon

A dozen mutinous soldiers appeared on Gabonese national television, announcing the cancellation of recent election results and the dissolution of “all the institutions of the republic”.

Wednesday’s announcement came after President Ali Bongo Ondimba, 64 was re-elected for a third term, in an election the opposition described as a ‘fraud orchestrated’ by the ruling party.
The Bongo family, one of Africa’s most powerful dynasties, has been in power since 1967.

The president has confirmed he is under house arrest and called for help, urging citizens to ‘make noise’

There have been scenes of celebration in the Gabonese capital, Libreville since the military takeover.

The United States is deeply concerned by events in Gabon, where military officers said they had seized power, White House national security spokesman John Kirby told a briefing.

“We’re following this very, very closely,” he said. “It’s deeply concerning to us…we will remain a supporter of people in the region and supporter of the people in Gabon.”

BY: DENNIS OTU

They were expectant. They longed for a relief. They had gone on borrowing here and there to make ends meet. Going to work every day had become a major problem to many of them, no thanks to the untold hardship brought upon them by the removal of fuel subsidy by the APC led Federal Government and suddenly they got more than what they ever bargained for. And they are elated that he came to their rescue at the right time. They cannot stop singing the praises of the Delta State Governor, His Excellency, Rt Hon Sheriff Oborevwori to high heavens for lifting their spirits to another planet.

“I am pleased to report that this administration has taken decisive steps to improve the welfare of our workers, which is an integral part of the MORE agenda. To cushion the hardship our people are facing as a result of the removal of fuel subsidy and the downward spiral of the naira against the dollar, I have approved the payment of Ten Thousand (N10, 000.00) naira to the fifty thousand, one hundred and ninety-six workers (50,196) in the state public service for the next three months starting from August. The staff figure includes employees of the ten higher institutions in the state”, those were the words of the State Governor, His Excellency, Rt Hon Sheriff Oborevwori at the Swearing-in ceremony of Commissioners.

The words of the Governor touched the hearts of the workers, coming at a very bleak time in their lives when feeding in most homes has become unbearable. To the workers, they have seen poverty walking with four legs in their lives since President Bola Tinubu without a second thought decided to flush fuel subsidy down the drain. But Governor Oborevwori who expressed concern about the spiral effect of the fuel subsidy removal on the people has taken bold steps to wipe away the endless cries of the workers and now they are happy for it. Their tears were wiped away when the Governor said that they are now to run shifts. This is apart from the #10, 000 that they are to be receiving from August, 2023. Indeed, celebration time is here for the workers.

“Furthermore, I have approved that workers from salary grade Levels 1-14 should run shifts as follows: First Batch: (Monday – Wednesday) Second Batch: (Thursday – Friday). This schedule will be implemented on a rotational basis. Those who work from Monday-Wednesday in one week will work Thursday to Friday the following week to ensure fairness and equity. The schedule for officers from salary grade Levels 15 and above is to be worked out by the various MDAs as it is suitable for them. However, staff on essential services must be on duty while working remotely is also encouraged. The other arms of government – the judiciary and legislature – are to work out their modalities as they deem fit”, the Governor said.

Governor Oborevwori also used the opportunity to say that; “As you are aware, local government workers are not under the administration of the state. However, we have held consultations with the leadership of ALGON and it is our earnest expectation that ALGON will implement the same palliative measures for its workers”.

“In line with my electoral promise, I recently approved the payment of outstanding promotion arrears to twenty-three thousand, eight hundred and eighty-seven (23,887) workers in the state public service. The total amount payable is five billion, five hundred and twenty-two million, six hundred and thirty-seven thousand, eight hundred and forty-eight naira, and five kobo (N5, 522,637, 848.05). The payment commences from this month of August and will be made in four tranches as follows: Ministries:Judiciary, Parastatals, (August), Hospital Management (September), Higer Institutions ( October), Post Primary Education Board ( November)”, he said.

” To the glory of God, the thorny issue of unpaid local government pensions is nearing final resolution. My administration helped to secure legislative approval for the local government councils to obtain a N40b bank loan to enable them liquidate their backlog of pension liabilities. The loan, which is guaranteed by the state government, is payable over a five-year period, and will be deducted from the accounts of the local government councils. Barring any unforeseen circumstances, the payment of the pensions should commence soon.

“I have also given the nod for the local government councils to recruit teaching and non-teaching staff to fill up existing vacancies. At least 2,000 persons will be gainfully employed through this process. In due course, we shall carry out comprehensive audit of physical infrastructure in our primary and secondary schools to enable us know where there are gaps and respond accordingly. My administration will spare no expense in providing the conducive climate essential for high quality learning experiences in our schools”, Governor Oborevwori said.

These are really difficult times for the workers and with succour given to them by the Governor who knows their pains, they cannot but continue to pray for him and his administration and truly they cannot forget in a jiffy that beautiful Tuesday, August 22nd, 2023 when Governor Oborevwori gave them breath of fresh air that lifted their already battered spirits. Now they have bounced back to life, thanks to Governor Oborevwori who feels their pains.

DENNIS OTU IS THE SENIOR SPECIAL ASSISTANT (MEDIA) TO THE GOVERNOR OF DELTA STATE.