… Seven Opuama Indigenes allegedly Suffer Machete Injuries
By Amos Odhe, Yenagoa
There is rising tension in communities in Opuama Kingdom in Southern Ijaw Local Government Area of Bayelsa State following the alleged invasion by armed operatives of the Tantita Security Company.
Over seven indigenes of the Opuama kingdom were reportedly beaten and injured under the alleged guise of searching for suspected oil thieves.
Opuama kingdom is made up of 14 autonomous communities and 48 fishing settlements in Southern Ijaw and host multimillion dollar oil assets operated by SPDC, NAOC and Chevron.
The Territorial Youth President of the Opuama Kingdom, Comrade Omatebe Foster Kurotimi and the Technical Assistant to the Bayelsa governor on General Duties, Hon. Opumie Collins Trueman, described the attack on the “defenceless people of the kingdom as condemnable, barbaric and gross misconduct on the part of the security pipeline surveillance company.”
They said that a particular youth, who was loading sand in his boat at the waterside and waved the speed boat of the Tantita operatives to slow down and not force his sand filled canoe to capsize, was dragged to the waterside and flogged with horse whip and machete.
Others reportedly injured were dragged from their homes and injured in the struggle.
The Territorial Youth President of the Opuama Kingdom, Comrade Omatebe Foster Kurotimi, while speaking with newsmen in Yenagoa, said though a formal protest has been filed with the state headquarters of the DSS and the Zone 16 Command of the Nigerian Police, “the wickedness act by Tantita security operatives led by the coordinator is a provocative act that could lead to break down of law and order.”
Kurotimi warned that despite the fact that Opuama youths are law-abiding and peaceful, the invasion of the communities by Tantita operatives is threatening peace in the area.
According to him, “we are law abiding and in as much as we want peace, Tantita should adopt professionalism while in search of oil thieves. They just invade communities and start chasing people and beating them with dangerous weapons.
“I have notified the traditional elders and the security agencies. Tantita should exercise caution and adopt professionalism. To Tantita, Opuama case is always different. They rounded up indigenes from fishing settlement, took them to their house boat and started flogging them. It is unprofessional.
“While we are ready to work with the Federal Government, security agencies and Tantita to tackle cases of oil theft, the Tantita should not continue to oppress our youths to avoid bloody confrontation.”
In his position, the Technical Assistant to the Bayelsa governor on General Duties, Hon. Opumie Collins Trueman expressed disappointment over the action of Tantita operatives and called on the federal, state and security agencies to investigate the incident to avoid possible confrontation between angry Opuama youths with the Tantita security operatives.
Hon. Trueman also denied the alleged involvement of Opuama youths in illegal oil bunkering, noting that the era of militancy and vices are over and the youths have become gainfully engaged.
“On Wednesday, I was called that Tantita security has invaded the community. Old mothers and youths were crying that they are passing through harrowing treatment in the hands of Tantita operatives.
“I also want to caution and call on the NSA, the Federal and State Government, the Chief of Defence Staff to call these Tantita operatives to order. These Tantita operatives should be professionals. And even the security operatives working with them should be more professional.”
Trueman called on Gov. Douye Diri to intervene and stop the Tantita operatives from provoking bloody confrontation between the Opuama youths and Tantita security. “I have however called on my people to remain calm and expect intervention from the relevant authorities.”
Attempt to get official position from Tantita Security Services Limited failed as officials were not available for comment. But a source close to the company denied knowledge of an alleged operation claiming that Tantita Security Services Limited was not the only surveillance company operating in the vicinity.
