By Ozioruva Aliu

BENIN CITY – A Non-Governmental Organisation, Centre for Civic Public Awareness (CCPA) has pledged to continue to expose individuals profiting from crude oil theft to boost the nation’s oil production and cautioned those benefiting from the illegal acts to stop defaming the founder of Tantita Security Services Nigeria Limited, High Chief Government Ekpemupolo popularly called Tompolo and the administrator of the Presidential Amnesty Programme, Dr. Dennis Otuaro.

The group said, as stakeholders in the Niger Delta, it was concerned about the activities of illegal oil bunkering, adding that it has endangered lives, untimely deaths and hindered national aspirations for increased crude oil production.

This was contained in a statement jointly issued on Sunday by Dr. Theophilus Arebamen Okojie and
Edosomwan Samuel Iroghama, the Coordinator and Publicity Secretary of the Centre.

The statement cautioned against innuendos targeted at Tompolo, Otuaro and their associates over their unwavering stance against oil theft and protection of national assets.

It noted: “Their (individuals) courage in executing the oil pipeline contract deserves recognition and not condemnation.”

The Centre expressed dismay that some “economic saboteurs” at home and their comrades abroad who allegedly left Nigeria because of Tompolo and his associates curtailment of their illegal access to crude oil have resorted to defaming him.

According to the group, “the Police, DSS and others must act swiftly on those who spread unverifiable, defaming and misleading information on social media.

“These are acts of cyber bullying, injurious and targeted against High Chief Government Ekpemupolo, Dr. Dennis Brutu Otuaro and their associates.

“We have credible information that the “sins” of Tompolo, Dr. Dennis Otuaro, and others, stem from their dedication to eliminating vandals and oil theft in the Niger Delta, thereby enriching the nation’s economy and protecting the environment.

“Their sole complaint is that Tompolo and his associates have rendered them jobless—jobs associated with oil bunkering, pipeline vandalism, and environmental degradation.”