The Mayor of Urhoboland, Eshanakpe Israel a.k.a Akpodoro has described the alleged arrest of four personnel of Tantita Security Services , TSSNL as one blackmail too many against an outfit engaged by the Federal Government that is doing its best to rid Nigerian waters of oil thieves and protect the commonwealth of the nation.
This was contained in a statement issued in Abuja by the Ughelli South Local Government-born Mayor who is also an ex-militant leader.
Akpodoro noted that it was vainfully bellyaching and seeking avenues to implicate the men of TSSNL even when it’s obvious that corruption is fighting back.
The lingering friction between the Nigerian Navy and Tantita Security is most avoidable according to Akpodoro who noted that, for unpatriotic reasons, the Navy has decided to throw commonsense over board
He said the statement alleging that four Tantita Security operatives were arrested with a wooden vessel laden with stolen petroleum products is a blatant lie from the pit of hell.
The ex-militant leader called on President Bola Ahmed Tinubu to call the Nigeria Navy to order and instruct that agency immediately to release the innocent men who were caught in “the crossfire of a vicious war against a body that scurrying the Nigerian waters.
The operatives, according to the Mayor, are innocent while a security agency like the Navy is paranoid that Tantita Security is succeeding where its men have failed Nigerians over the years.
Tompolo, Akpodoro further stated, is leading an outfit that’s succeeding every minute where the constitutionally established institutions have failed.
To this end, the Mayor said the Navy is paranoid and seeking avenues “reasonable or not” to implicate the Tantita Security operatives.
Akpodoro called on the National Security Adviser to the President, Nuhu Ribadu, to wade into the matter, release the four men from the Naval custody who were wrongly accused of crime but have committed none except chasing suspects who melted into the Navy shield and later the hunter became the catch of the Navy.
The ex-militant leader called on the NSA to launch an indepth investigation into the matter with a view to getting to the root of it and punishing whoever is found wanting according to the law.
He added that the Chief of Naval Staff should call his men to order saying that they should embrace the current reality of zero tolerance for oil theft by Tantita Security and that the protection of the Nigerian commonwealth has come to stay.
“The NSA should call the Nigerian Navy to order. That agency must stop dancing naked. It is becoming clear to Nigerians those people who are traditional oil thieves in the country.
Why can’t the Nigerian Navy and Tantita Security work in synergy? Why is it difficult for the Navy to understand that Tantita Security Services is a partner in progress both of whom are expected to build a formidable front against oil thieves?
“Why is it difficult for the Navy to accept that it lacks the sincerity of purpose to police the Nigerian waters and at same time sufficiently protect the nation’s oil wealth?
“Gone at the days Nigerians thumb up for fathom allegations that cannot hold waters anywhere in the world. Tantita Security men chased criminals who were suspected oil thieves into Lekki axis only for the Navy to victimise the young men who were on national service.
“The Nigeria Navy should stop dancing naked. This is too shameful for an institution that was once the pride of our nation. Little wonder the war against oil theft gets tougher by the day,” the Mayor stated noting that, the President Bola Tinubu should call the Nigerian Navy to order.
