There’s a People

By Godbless Eduviere

On the eve of Jan 22 2025, I embarked on a two hour adventurous trip from Pesu waterside in Warri on a speedboat to Kurutie community of the ancient Gbaramatu Kingdom in the south-west region of Delta state, Nigeria. Indeed, it was quite gloaming and all we could see was grey linings on the surface of an endless river but I was dauntless as there are maximum securities with several checkpoints in the waterways to ensure the safety of lives and properties. Unlike what it was years ago, I am astonished by how vast the kingdom has transformed.

Bitter but true, Niger Delta has had numerous oil theft and bunkering activities in the past which extremely bastardized the environment and affected lives and properties for years. There used to be several illegal refineries operations with foreign ships constantly drawing off crude oil.

These actions disrupted the peace in the affected areas, denied the country of billions in revenue, and the waterways which used to be bubbling with several economic activities suddenly became unsafe for decades until a purposeful leader; High Chief Government Ekepmupolo intervention. In addition, the gigantic contributions of the Nigerian Government cannot be overemphasized. To acknowledge his agelong efforts, his outfit, Tantita Security Services Nigeria Limited was awarded a Pipeline Surveillance contract for safeguarding the country’s oil assets.
TSSNL is an institute of well trained, disciplined and selfless freedom-fighters who have dedicated their lives to war against vandalism as well oil thievery and thugs parading the creeks and terrorizing the people and peace in the society. Tompolo as he’s fondly called is one with profound understanding of the creeks and took up the challenge to restore the long lost peace, economic values and security in the Niger Delta, and in no time, he was able to disrupt criminal activities that have ruined the region for years, eradicated oil theft, and exposed and dismounted illegal refineries, and reacquired the waterways from pirates. However, he didn’t limit his goals to his province, but extended it across the region. He intimated neighboring residents both in Edo, Ondo, Bayelsa, Delta, Akwa Ibom and Rivers states of the needs to get rid of illegal oil bunkering activities and Ships used for these illegal activities were intercepted, the criminals were arrested, and hidden pipelines used for tapping crude oil were exposed but then, it seems that the development didn’t go well with the spoilers as it seems that their only pleasure is to benefit from the pain and sufferings of Niger Deltans. They continuously cultivated sweet lies and sponsor anti-progress campaigns in order to discredit his good works and frustrate his efforts so that they can continue with their criminal activities.
Indeed, my last visit to kurutie community and Oporoza community was quite revealing. Gbaramatu kingdom and Nigeria as a country is what it is today because of the grand efforts of the Nigerian Government and Tompolo hence many, especially the fishermen and others whose main sources of livelihood is from the river still inexhaustibly sing his praises for making life easy and fair, and I must commend the Federal and State Governments whose grand efforts cannot be hidden under a rock and also for believing in the struggles and undying efforts of Tompolo and standing by him through trying times. I therefore humbly appeal that they should continue with the good works that they have started in order to encourage and inspire him.