Comrade Abe Emmanuel addressing the media on behalf of the CSOs
By Our Reporter
coalition of civil society organisations for human rights in a press conference on Wednesday has alleged human rights violations, torture and institution of arbitrary and illegal detention centre by Chief Oweizidei Thomas Ekpemupolo aka Tompolo and his Tantita Security Services Nigeria Limited in the Niger Delta region.
The CSOs in a statement signed by the Convener, Comrade Abe Emmanuel and made available to newsmen called upon President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, to investigate the allegations with a view to nipping the seeds of such atrocities in the bud. The coalition added that ever since the current government came on board it has made its determination to reset Nigeria its cornerstone, of which the cardinal principle rests not only on economic reforms and the placing of the economy on sound footing, but also on promotion of human rights, rule of law and due process.
It noted that “From the word ‘go’, your administration has shown promised of renewed hope.
This hope is not centered on economic and infrastructural
development alone, but also on human capital development; and
protection of human rights is an integral part of this development.
We believe as a civil society organisation that for the fortunes of
Nigeria to move progressively the later part of this defined
development must be protected and harnessed. This putsch forms
the hallmark of today’s briefing.”
“The Coalition of Civil Society Organisations for Human Rights is
a coalition convened to advocate for monitoring and defense human
rights across the length and breathe of the Federation of Nigeria.”
The coalition says it has received countless petitions and reports of torture, arbitrary arrest and detention of innocent citizens in an illegal centre, wondering if such trend of torture is part of the duty and brief of Tantilla Security Services which is solely contracted to protect pipelines.
The coalition named Jolomi Abechukwu from Tisin Community who
according to him was arrested alongside his friend Bade and taken
into captivity in Oporoza where the alleged camp and illegal
detention facilities of the Tantita security are located. They were
arrested on 2nd of December, 2024 and released in January, 2025.
“As law abiding youths of Nigeria, we do not want to believe that the
pipeline surveillance contract, gives impetus to the security
company to arrogate arrest and detention powers reserved only for
the security apparatchik of Nigeria.
These unlawful arrests violate the express provisions of chapter iv of
the 1999 Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria (as
amended) and the express provisions of the African Charter on
Human and People’s Rights.
We are drawing the attention of the federal government to this
anomaly with call on international organisations to help protect the
rights of Nigerian youths spread across Nigeria because if this
situation is not investigated and arrested, Youths living in the Niger
Delta region will continue to suffer the inhumane and
unconstitutional treatment meted out by the Tantita Security
Services Limited.”
“Lastly, we do not want to believe that the President Bola Ahmed
Tinubu led administration which is fast building a reputation for due
process, is aware of these heinous crimes against humanity.
The group urged President Bola Tinubu to look into the allegations with dispatch as to save innocent citizens from the arbitrariness of the Tantilla Security Services.
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