Unknown gunmen on Saturday launched an attack on Tompolo’s Pipeline Surveillance boat, Tantita, assigned to Tuomo Unit and headed by the traditional prime minister of Tuomo Kingdom in Delta State, High Chief Mike Loyibo, and reportedly carted away with its 200 horsepower engine.
Africa Daily News, New York reports that Tantita is the company that recently won a multi-billion contract to protect crude oil pipelines in the Niger Delta against oil thieves and led by a former militant leader, Government Ekpenupolo, aka Tompolo.
Saturday’s attack reportedly happened at Aleibiri community in Ekeremor Local Government Area of Bayelsa State, a few hours after Loyibo and his team went to visit Henry Azazi, the new Coordinator of Aleibiri Unit. Our source disclosed that Azazi went to resume office, yesterday, after Gen. Gowon Abenzi, his predecessor, was relieved of his position.
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However, Azazi was reported to have swung into action and asked everyone to be calm, noting he would unravel the perpetrators of the attack and theft.
Contacted, Loyibo’s community source at Tuomo, who pleaded anonymity, said: “Yes, it happened yesterday at Aleibiri, a neighbouring community in Bayelsa State. They made away with both the 200 HP engine and boat and we’ve launched a search operation to recover it.
‘We know the perpetrators and we’ll recover it by any means necessary’.
A fortnight ago, Tompolohad lambasted the Nigerian Army and Nigerian Navy accusing them of shielding oil thieves.
The Nigeria Delta activist made the incriminating revelation against the military in an interview with Channels TV which was monitored by Africa Daily News, New York.
The President Muhammadu Buhari administration recently awarded Tompolo a pipeline security contract.
The deal, which sparked controversy, is to protect oil lines in the six South-South states and is reportedly worth N50billion per year.
