From Femi Folaranmi, Yenagoa
The Ijaw Youths Network (IYN) has raised alarm over the intensified blackmail of huge international proportion against the Chairman of Tantita Security Services, High Chief Government Ekpemupolo aka Tompolo, the Group Chief Executive Officer of the Nigeria National Petroleum Corporation Limited, Mr. Mele Kyari, and the Chairman of the Presidential Amnesty Programme, Dr. Dennis Otuaro.
The IYN, in a statement by its President, Frank Ebikabo, and Secretary, Federal Ebiaridor, on Sunday drew attention to a well-funded blackmail by those it described as a venomous cabal of oil thieves who are uncomfortable with the gains of the campaign against oil theft spearheaded by Tantita Security Services and the security agencies.
The IYN leadership was reacting to a video of a sponsored protest in front of the UN headquarters in New York, United States against Tompolo, Kyari and Otuaro.
The IYN called on the National Security Adviser, Mallam Nuhu Ribadu, and others entrusted with the nation’s security to ensure a thorough investigation of those behind the blackmail and bring them to justice in the interest of national security.
Ebikabo and Ebiaridor also urged the President, Senator Ahmed Bola Tinubu to be resolute in sustaining the reversal of the evils of oil theft against Nigeria and her citizens.
The IYN stressed that oil thieves and their operatives who are armed with billions of ill-gotten resources are funding this recurrent attack on the Tompolo, Kyari, and Otuaro.
The IYN stated further that the oil thieves are pulling resources together with their international collaborators to undermine the President, national security, and the nation’s economy.
The group said that it is not unexpected that the deadly cabal that almost ruined the economy of the country by stealing billions of petrodollars from the country would not give up their lucrative crime without a fight.
The IYN while pointing out that the Tinubu Administration which has been able to attain 1.8m barrels of crude oil per day, after serious efforts in the battle against oil thieves should not rest on its oars.
The IYN added further some of those fighting Tompolo, Kyari, and Otuaro are those who pressed to be appointed Administrator of the Presidential Amnesty Programme without success.
The Ijaw youths’ groups said that the antecedents of Otuaro and his capacity to deepen consultations and sustenance of peace in the Niger Delta might be hurting those behind the campaign of calumny in the region.
‘’We call on the President, to be firm in sustaining what is good for Nigeria. Tompolo and Tantita have shown that it is not impossible to stop the menace of oil theft as shown by the daily production of oil of 1.8 million barrels per day,
We also urge Mr. Kyari and Dr. Otuaro to be firm in carrying out their official responsibilities to this great country. That oil thieves are focusing attacks on them, shows in clear terms that their actions are suffocating their evil activities in the region.”