Mene petitions Tinubu over alleged Abuses, Kidnapping, Torture and operation of private prison by Tompolo

A fresh petition alleging serious human-rights violations, kidnappings, enforced disappearances, unlawful detention and other security concerns in Nigeria’s Niger Delta, has been formally addressed to President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, with the Warri Kingdom and affected Itsekiri communities emerging as a major, fourth front in the widening controversy. 

The petition, dated August 5, 2026, was signed by Mrs. Tsaye Mene, Convener of the Warri Reclamation Thrust and former National Executive of the Itsekiri National Youth Council, INYC.

It is addressed directly to President Tinubu at the Presidential Villa, Abuja, and calls for independent and transparent investigations into allegations involving Government Ekpemupolo, popularly known as Tompolo, Tantita Security Services Nigeria Limited and several individuals identified in the document.

The petition is significant not only because of the breadth of the allegations, but because it places Warri Kingdom and Itsekiri oil-producing communities in Warri North, Warri South-West and Warri South Local Government Areas at the centre of the security and territorial grievances being presented to the Federal Government.

The document also claims that supporting materials, including witness statements, photographs, videos, documentary evidence and social-media material, were submitted on a flash drive for examination by competent authorities.

According to the petition, the matter has already been brought to the attention of the President’s office, the international community rather than remaining a community-level complaint.

Mene is asking the Federal Government to encourage an independent, impartial and credible investigation into allegations ranging from operation of private prison, kidnapping and torture to enforced disappearance, unlawful detention facilities, illegal possession or stockpiling of firearms, intimidation of civilians and alleged occupation or displacement of indigenous communities.

The petition expressly states that the allegations are presented for investigation and verification and that the petitioner is prepared to provide victims, witnesses and additional evidence to authorized investigators.

At the heart of the petition is the situation in Warri Kingdom, where the petitioner alleges that several Itsekiri communities have faced intimidation, violent occupation of ancestral lands, destruction or displacement of settlements, interference with traditional institutions and the alleged renaming of indigenous communities all of which were done leveraging on the pipeline security contract.

The petition further alleges that residents have suffered intimidation and unlawful detention and raises concerns about the presence and activities of personnel allegedly associated with Tantita Security Services in Itsekiri communities.

These claims come against the backdrop of an already heated dispute over pipeline surveillance, community rights, land ownership, political representation and the presence of competent security contractors in Itsekiri territory.

The Warri Reclamation Thrust, has previously called for the withdrawal of Tantita operations from Itsekiri homelands and has argued for greater participation of Itsekiri stakeholders in pipeline surveillance contracts due to the alleged operation of the illegal private prison by Tompolo and Tantita security services, torture, land grabbing and other human rights violation.

The organization has also previously raised complaints over the naming and delineation of Itsekiri communities, including a 2025 petition to INEC concerning the fraudulent Warri Federal Constituency Delineation.

The latest petition identifies several alleged victims from Itsekiri communities. It claims that Moses Obukokwo, Samson Edema, Afejuku Jolomi and Omamuminogho Molagbemi, said to be from Tisun and Usor communities in Warri North, were allegedly kidnapped and taken to Oporoza, where they were allegedly detained and subjected to torture and hard labour before their eventual release.

She also alleged that the most recent incident of three youth leaders of Ijaghala Community in Ugborodo who are the recognized community leadership Mayomi Ololo Abeson, Adeyemi Laju Tobi and Glory Oritsegbubemi Macaulay were abducted and detained in the illegal prison of Government Ekpomkpolo A.K.A Tompolo in July 25 2026.

The community leadership have written a petition to the Inspector General of Police and other related agencies and urged security agencies and the media to treat the petition with the utmost seriousness it deserves.

An independent investigation is particularly important before it escalates into a full blown Crisis as the government is fully aware that it's an established fact that Ijaghala is a federated community in Ugborodo land in Warri Kingdom. Beyond Warri Kingdom, the petition widens its allegations to other parts of the Niger Delta.

It raises the case of Balamene Karowei, who, according to the petition, allegedly disappeared after being abducted from his residence in Yenagoa, Bayelsa State, in July 2024. It also cites the alleged abduction and detention of Charles Korubo, as well as allegations concerning detention facilities purportedly operating in Oporoza.

The petition names a number of individuals as alleged victims or persons connected to the incidents. Importantly, the allegations against named individuals should be clearly investigated, culprits brought to book while the victims are well rehabilitated and compensated. The petition asks President Tinubu to encourage the relevant Nigerian authorities to investigate: alleged enforced disappearances; kidnapping and unlawful detention; torture and cruel treatment; alleged illegal detention facilities; alleged arms stockpiling; threats against civilians and community leaders; forced displacement, renaming and occupation of indigenous lands; and other alleged violations of Nigerian and international law.

It further requests protection for victims, witnesses, whistleblowers and community leaders who may cooperate with investigators. The petition argues that the allegations, if substantiated, could have implications extending beyond local disputes because the Niger Delta remains central to Nigeria's oil production, maritime security and regional stability.

The latest development comes amid months of increasing tension surrounding Tantita's role in pipeline surveillance and its relationship with communities across the Niger Delta. In June, the Warri Reclamation Thrust publicly demanded the withdrawal of Tantita personnel from Itsekiri territory, warning of possible consequences for communal peace.

Earlier reports have also documented previous petitions involving allegations of arms stockpiling, land disputes and alleged human-rights violations associated with Tantita, with calls for presidential intervention.

The latest petition therefore represents an escalation from a largely localised dispute into a direct appeal to the Presidency for federal scrutiny. With the petition dated August 5 and addressed to President Tinubu, simultaneously been dispatched to the United Nations, The United States of America, Canada, the United Kingdom and other Global human rights organizations. The issue is now squarely before the Federal Government, according to the petitioner. For the people of Warri Kingdom and the Itsekiri communities, the stakes are particularly high.

The dispute touches not only on security but also on ancestral land, community identity, political representation, dehumanization and planned colonization of their indigenes by Tompolo and his people, economic participation and control of resources. For Abuja, the challenge is equally significant: how to protect national security and critical oil infrastructure while ensuring that indigenous communities and all other stakeholders are protected by the same rule of law.

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