Ex-militant leaders in the Niger Delta are at logger heads over the multimillion-naira pipeline protection contract, Sunday PUNCH reports.
The crisis, according to insiders, stems from a contract awarded to a company in which the Olu of Warri, Ogiame Atuwatse III, has an interest, and the renewal of a $144m contract for Tantita Security Services, owned by ex-militant leader Government Ekpemupolo, popularly known as Tompolo.
There are also uncertainties over future renewal and distribution of the contract following the change of guard in the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited. This was after President Bola Tinubu sacked the former Group Chief Executive Officer of the company, Mele Kyari, and appointed a new team.
Tompolo’s contract
Sunday PUNCH gathered that Tompolo’s contract is a continuation of pipeline surveillance, coastal protection, and safeguarding of critical infrastructure in the Niger Delta region awarded to him during the administration of former President Goodluck Jonathan.
According to sources, the NNPCL renewed the contract in October 2024, and Tantita hopes it will be renewed in 2025.
Our correspondents learnt that some ex-militant leaders who believed they were entitled to a share of the Olu of Warri and Tompolo’s contracts had been grumbling and attempting to instigate violence since early 2025.
While some ex-militants accused Tompolo of monopolising the contract despite pipelines running through their native communities, others argued that the Olu of Warri should not have been awarded a contract to protect pipelines in Rivers State.
Insiders told Sunday PUNCH that the crisis might be responsible for recent attacks on pipelines in parts of Rivers State, warning that oil facility vandalism might persist if the division among ex-militants was not resolved.
On February 10, unidentified gunmen attacked security operatives guarding an oil pipeline in Okporowo, Igbu Orlukwor clan of Ahoada East Local Government Area of Rivers State. Amid rising political tension in the state, an explosion occurred on the Trans Niger Pipeline at Aluu community in Emohua LGA on March 16.
The blast resulted in the death of a suspected vandal, and one suspect linked to the incident was arrested a few days later.
Similarly, on March 18, a suspect attempting to sabotage an oil pipeline was arrested in Ogba/Egbema/Ndoni LGA. The individual was found in possession of explosives intended to damage a pipeline belonging to Oando.
A human rights lawyer and activist, Deji Adeyanju, raised the alarm over the killing of personnel and officers of Tantita Security Services, calling on security agencies to take immediate and decisive action against both the perpetrators and their sponsors.
“This will not only provide significant economic benefits but also enable us to meet our OPEC quota, which is vital for our national interests,” he said in a statement.
Asari Dokubo’s grouse
A former Niger Delta agitator, now the monarch of Torusarama Piri (Elem Kalabari), Asari Dokubo, had been vocal in his opposition to Tompolo’s pipeline protection contract.
In a three-part video merged into one and seen by Sunday PUNCH, Dokubo accused Tompolo of cornering a contract meant for all ex-militant leaders.
The video, uploaded by a verified X account named ‘Lord of Warri’ on March 24, contained a strong rebuke of Tompolo’s handling of the contract.
Dokubo said, “During the time of President Goodluck Jonathan, he awarded a coastal protection contract to Tompolo. A group, including myself, went to meet the former president, and he said the contract was meant for all of us. We tried to communicate with Tompolo, but he said the contract was exclusively his. We did not want to raise an eyebrow. He was given $144m every year and did that contract for three years. He did not give anybody a dime. We did not do anything; we just left him.
“Now, they are lying to people that the Olu of Warri is the one who has the Rivers State pipeline protection contract. It’s a lie. I am talking about Kalabari, not Rivers State. The 83km pipeline that passes through Kalabari, from my native Kula, Elama, to Cawthorne Channel, was included and given to him. And people say he is not a greedy man. A man that took $144m, which the president said was for all of us, vehemently refused to share. Ateke Tom and Boyloaf are witnesses.
“If the Olu of Warri had taken the Rivers State pipeline security contract, what was his approach compared to Tompolo’s? Did Tompolo reach out to anybody when he got the contract? Did the Olu of Warri sit in his palace and ask everybody to come and meet him? No, he did not. You have to humble yourself, interact with others, and make them see reason even if they initially refuse.
“Did Tompolo give anybody part of his contract? Now he brings in the Olu of Warri to whip up sentiment so that people will rise against him. Nobody will do that.
“For those who say they want to come out, do so when you are ready. Isn’t one of you using the military to arrest and kill people? You can’t fight; you are using the military to chase people. No military will chase me. Know that. If we are going to fight, it is me and you.”
The video, which an aide to another ex-militant said was old, was accompanied by a statement from the X user, who accused Tompolo of monopolising the pipeline protection contract.
The user explained that the Olu of Warri’s contract in Rivers State was awarded to protect pipelines in Itsekiri and Ilaje areas.
“If you’re bringing up the Olu’s contract, let’s be clear—that’s in Rivers State, not Delta State. It wasn’t until last year that the Olu’s contract expanded to cover some Itsekiri and Ilaje areas. The Itsekiris, Urhobos, Isokos, and Ijaws were all brought on board by PINL (Pipeline Infrastructure Nigeria Limited).
“Over 60% of unemployed youths are getting monthly paychecks thanks to the Olu of Warri. And let’s correct something—when the Bayelsa and Rivers State contracts were awarded to the company where the Olu was chairman, he wasn’t even the Olu yet. Plus, he didn’t go around kidnapping or unlawfully detaining people like a certain security service has done—and still does—which, by the way, isn’t even part of their contract.
“The Olu didn’t demand that anyone grovel at his feet; he split the contract with stakeholders so the protection could run smoothly in those areas without drama. He didn’t hoard it all for himself. Tantita doesn’t even come close to PINL. No human rights abuses, no shady nonsense. Ask the Ijaws, Ogonis, Ibibios, and Ikwerres who have worked with the Olu—not a single complaint. Anything you hear otherwise is just political noise from rival contractors trying to stir the pot.”
Attacks on Tantita
An ex-militant leader, who spoke on condition of anonymity, confirmed to Sunday PUNCH that the contracts awarded to Tompolo and the Olu of Warri had been generating controversy in the Niger Delta.
According to him, Dokubo, Ateke Tom, and Victor Ebikabowei, also known as Boyloaf, alongside other former Niger Delta agitators, were opposed to Tompolo.
At the same time, some of Tompolo’s loyalists were protesting the contract awarded to the Olu of Warri in Rivers State.
“The Olu of Warri’s contract extends to parts of Rivers and Akwa Ibom states. It is a multi-billion naira contract, and some people are protesting because they believe the contract should have been awarded to an indigene of Rivers State,” he said.
Amid the controversy, some individuals accused Tantita workers of attacks on surveillance workers.
But some groups, including the Niger Delta Renaissance Network and the Niger Delta Environmental Justice Coalition, recently spoke in defence of the company, accusing some ex-militant leaders of sponsoring a ‘media attack’ on Tompolo.
“These orchestrated character assassinations are not merely unfounded; they threaten to derail the critical efforts of Tompolo and his team,” said the spokesman for NDEJC, Abalagha Adawari.
Also, the Tantita Security Service denied the allegations of attacks on surveillance workers.
The Head of the Press Unit of the company, Dr Paul Bebenimibo, said the security outfit was not involved in any criminal activities.
“Tantita cannot attack any surveillance workers, and we are not involved in any criminal activities. Also, there is no conflict between Tompolo and the Olu of Warri,” he stated.
However, another top official of the Tantita Security Services, who spoke with our correspondent on condition of anonymity, said it would be out of place for anybody to pick up a fight against Tompolo because of the contract renewal.
“The contract was renewed last year, and I don’t think it makes any sense for anybody to be raising an eyebrow now. In any case, whoever has issues with the contract should take the matter up with the NNPCL. The video you’re referring to is old,” he stated.
The official denied the report that Tompolo’s men were inciting some people against the Olu of Warri because of his contract renewal.
On the attack on Tantita’s personnel, the official said, “The killing of our security personnel is part of the hazard of the job. I don’t think it has anything to do with any crisis or division.”
Commenting on the matter, a retired police officer, August Onyewadume, appealed to the ex-militants to stop destroying pipelines, adding that such was not in the best interest of the nation.
He decried the attack on the pipelines and the conflict among the ex-militants, saying, “The Niger Delta has been suffering from environmental degradation and pollution, and all the oil firms there are not doing enough to address the issue.
“Tompolo is an Ijaw man. Let the contract go round. The government should have a roundtable discussion with them (ex-militant leaders) and identify those who can handle the pipeline job so there will be no problem, because others feel they are not being carried along.”
Sunday PUNCH was unable to reach the Olu of Warri to comment on the contract.
However, the Ologbotsere of Warri Kingdom, High Chief Oma Eyewuoma, directed our correspondent to PINL, saying the palace could not speak on the matter.
“Direct your enquiry to the managing director of the company. The palace does not work with the company. The company is completely different from the palace, and it is not the responsibility of the palace to talk about any matter concerning the company,” he stated.
But calls made to the two phone numbers on PINL’s website were not answered. (Punch)
