Tompolo’s contract requires he provides the intelligence that could aid security agencies to stop the stealing. But he says they are the ones doing the stealing
By Ishaya Ibrahim, News Editor
Ex-militant leader, Government Ekpemupolo, also known as Tompolo, has alleged that top officials of Nigeria’s security agencies are behind the stealing of Nigeria’s crude oil.
The Nigerian Upstream Petroleum Regulatory Commission put the volume of crude oil theft every day at about 600,000 barrels.
The Nigeria National Petroleum Company (NNPC) recently awarded N4.5 billion monthly pipeline surveillance contract to Tompolo to stop the economic bleeding.
Tompolo’s contract requires he provides the intelligence that could aid security agencies to stop the stealing.
But in an interview on Channels Television, Tompolo says the stealing of the crude oil is being carried out by the same security agencies that are supposed to catch the thieves.
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He said: “Security officials are behind this oil theft. They are deeply involved. They are trying to bring down this country. You will find security personnel all over the place. Though we have good ones, there is no way you can load a vessel without settling the security officials that are within that area.”
He warned the thieves to desist from the action, otherwise, he would expose them.
“I have a comprehensive list of those who are involved. A lot of key players are involved, from Abuja to Lagos. We are appealing to the top security officials to talk to their people to change,” he said.
He said from the intelligence at his disposal, most of the security agencies including the Army, Navy, Police and DSS have illegal bunkering locations. He said only the Department of State Security (DSS) has not been mentioned in the looting of Nigeria’s oil wealth.
He warned that if crude oil theft is not halted, there would be no money to run the country.