WRT Alleges: Pipeline Surveillance Contract, strategy to reduce voting strength of Itsekiri

The Warri Reclamation Thrust, WRT, says Pipeline Surveillance Contract awarded to Tantita Security Services Nigeria Limited by the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited, NNPCL, was “nothing but a planned strategy to devest the communities of their inhabitants, all in a bid to disenfranchise and reduce the voting strength of the Itsekiri people during elections.” 

Fresh Angle International, can report that the pro-Itsekiri group, made the allegation in Warri, Delta State, Monday July 28, during a press briefing “On The Leaks Pertaining To Inec’s Illegal, Fraudulent And Financially Induced Proposal For The Delineation Of Wards In Warri Federal Constituency Under The Guise Of Acting In Execution Of Supreme Court Judgment.”

Speaking through Bright Omaghomi and Mrs. Tsaye Mene, the Warri Reclamation Thrust, asserted: “This press briefing is at the instance of Warri Reclamation Thrust to address the unnecessary delay of action on the call for investigation of INEC officials involved in the obviously fraudulent ward delineation exercise of Warri Federal Constituency as we have alleged in our petitions already submitted to the offices of the President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, the Senate President, the Speaker of the House Representatives, the Inspector General of Police, the National Security Adviser, the Department of State Services, the Commissioner of Police Delta State and over 40 agencies of Government.

“For the records, Warri Reclamation Thrust is an advocacy group of the Itsekiri Ethnic Nationality calling for justice, equity, fairness and application of the rule of law in all engagements that concern the Itsekiri people.

“We have in the past few minutes mentioned fraudulent practices and the need for investigation. You may wish to know more specially who the alleged suspects are, what precise crime they have committed and what specific sections of the law they have acted contrary to in the circumstances. 

We shall presently answer these questions one after the other as you come with us.  

“1. THE SUSPECTS: 

In our earlier petition we had sufficiently briefed the relevant agencies of government and the general public of how INEC perpetrated  fraud in the delineation of the Warri Federal Constituency as follows: 

a. The assignment to re-delineate Warri Federal Constituency was given to the National Chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), Professor Mahmood Yakubu who suspiciously assigned Professor Rhoda Gumus a person with tribal interest in the matter to chair the said Delineation Committee.

b. That both officials of INEC mentioned above then co-opted another person with the same interest in the matter Elemson Joseph Jumbo, the field operating officer of the exercise who is also a person with the same tribal interest as Professor Rhoda Gumus.

c. That INEC ignored the protests of the Itsekiri people asking Professor Rhoda Gumus and all other interested persons so assigned by INEC for the ward Delineation exercise of the Warri Federal constituency to step down. 

d. That the trio then utilized their official positions as a tool to commit, compound fraud, illegality and other felonious offences as they relate to the ongoing proposal for the delineation and/or re-delineation of Warri Federal Constituency in disregard to the concern raised by the Itsekiri in several petitions to INEC 

“2. THE ALLEGED OFFENCES:

a. That apparently induced by money the above-named suspects fraudulently and in a corrupt manner conducted the ongoing delineation and/or re-delineation of Warri Federal Constituency by:

i.  Creating fictitious communities to form units that make up wards.

ii. Renaming of over 300 Itsekiri aboriginal communities with Ijaw and Urhobo names in disregard to well-known historical, public and legal records to create units that make up wards for Ijaw and Urhobos as we have uncovered from INEC’s proposal presented to stakeholders on the 4th of April 2025. It is worthy of note here that even the Ijaws of Ogbe-Ijoh and a couple of other Ijaws from Gbaramatu have corroborated this position, 

iii. Importing communities from outside the three Warri Local Government Areas (e.g., communities from Burutu, Bomadi, Ughelli South, Udu in Delta State and Communities from Edo and Ondo States were imported to make up units and wards in Warri Federal Constituency).

iv. Illegally adjusting boundaries across Warri Federal Constituency which is outside the scope of work of INEC. 

v. The shocking metamorphosis of how one (1) ward in an area now illegally called Gbaramatu turned nine (9) wards is a science that lacks empirical evidence and turns logic on its head. We are therefore calling on INEC and their conspirators to explain to Nigerians the application of this new scientific approach that defeats science.  

b. That the above conduct of the said suspects manifests the following specifics offences under the Laws of the Federal Republic of Nigeria:

i. Removal of boundary marks with intent to defraud contrary to Section 457 of the Criminal Code Act. 

ii. Wilfully causing of damage, etc., to survey and boundary marks contrary to Section 458 of the Criminal Code Act.

iii. Using deception to alter boundaries or gain advantage in a boundary dispute contrary to Section 418 of the Criminal Code Act.

iv. Conducting themselves in a manner likely to cause a breach of the peace in Warri and environs contrary to Section  249 (d) of the Criminal Code Act.

We are at a loss as to why these offences are not being investigated by the  Police; could it be that the said suspects are above the law? 

What is stopping the Nigeria Police Force from carrying out their  investigations as it is the responsibility of the Police? Given that for over  60days we have long written to The Nigeria Police Force, The NSA and  over 40 Government agencies. The question to ask is who shielded who?  Who is obstructing the investigation? Who is tying the hand of  justice, what power or forces are shielding the suspects from being  investigated and prosecuted?

 “3. OUR PRAYERS:

Against the background of the above facts and law we hereby pray as follows: 

a. That the Nigerian Police Force does its job and should resist the attempt by known actors to financially induce it any further.

b. That the activities of Chief Government Ekpemukpolo and Chief Michael Johnny regarding the threat to life of the people of Kantu and Jaghala communities as well as the annexation of the said communities since the commencement of the delineation exercise and the release of the proposed report to stakeholder on of 4th day of April, 2025 should be investigated.

c. That the President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, the Defense Headquarters and the Office of the National Security Adviser should forthwith intervene to put an end to the continuous intimidation and harassment of the Itsekiri People and the deliberate attacks on our communities by the Nigerian Military under the guise of the execution of the pipeline surveillance contract. It is now obvious that the said contract is nothing but a planned strategy to devest the communities of their inhabitants, all in a bid to disenfranchise and reduce the voting strength of the Itsekiri people during elections. 

d. That the Government of Delta State should be responsible to its constitutional duty of protection of lives and property and stop the continuous attacks on Itsekiri people and communities with a view to preventing the situation from degenerating into the Okuama experience in Ughelli south as we shall not give an inch of Itsekiri land regardless of whether the Federal or state Government acts or not.

e. That INEC should conduct the delineation exercise in accordance with its guidelines and obey all Supreme Court Judgments particularly on land ownership in Warri Federal Constituency ( not just Supreme Court Judgment on delineation) as those who are regarded as our neighbors and gifted units and wards by INEC on our land are in reality our Tenants. 

f. That INEC should stop renaming our communities, an act which is outside its jurisdiction. Therefore, all Itsekiri communities so renamed with Ijaw and Urhobo names alien to the area should be expunged and reverted to the aboriginal names of the area.

g. That the entire proposal referred to above be totally cancelled; regard being had, to the outright violation of the rule of law, procedure and established guidelines as we have already alluded to.” 

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