SAHARA REPORTERS
A Niger Delta leader, Chief Bibopere Ajube, has been accused of mobilising Nigerian Army personnel to invade the office of Tantita Security Services Nigeria Limited in Ondo State and destroying all the valuable properties and items belonging to the private security outfit.
The allegation was made by a Senior Advocate of Nigeria, Ebun-Olu Adegboruwa in a statement made available to SaharaReporters on Monday morning.
The lawyer alleged that Ajube threatened to kill the commander of Tantita Security Firm, Chief Idowu Asonja, if he refused to evacuate his team from Ondo State.
Tantita Security Services belongs to a former militant, Government Ekpemupolo, popularly known as Tompolo.
Tantita Security Services has a subsisting contract with the Nigerian Government to protect oil pipelines and prevent incidences of crude oil theft in the Niger Delta region.
According to Adegboruwa’s statement, Chief Bibopere Ajube intends to wipe out the presence of Tantita Security Firm from Ondo State.
The lawyer alleged that Ajube led a team of soldiers and other armed men on February 9, 2024, to destroy the security outfit’s facilities. He said they also threatened to kill the commander, Chief Idowu Asonja if his wish did not come to reality soon.
The statement reads: “In recent times, there have been cases of mindless attacks upon and invasion of the structures of Tantita Security Services Nigeria Limited in Ondo State, especially on its facilities and personnel in Ilaje and Ese-Odo Local Government Areas.
“Tantita Security has an ongoing surveillance contract with the federal government of Nigeria to safeguard oil pipelines and to curtail incidences of crude oil theft in the Niger-Delta region.
“Tremendous successes have been recorded in this regard by Tantita Security in collaboration with the existing security agencies, especially the Navy, the Army, the Police, State Security Services, Civil Defence, Amotekun, etc. This has led to the arrest of vessels bearing stolen crude and the discovery of illegal refineries and oil bunkering sites.
“Tantita Security is being coordinated in Ondo State Senior High Chief Idowu Asonja, who has gallantly resisted all overtures to compromise the lofty ideals that Tantita Security has pursued over the years.
“Chief Asonja has however had a running battle with some persons who are opposed to the good efforts of Tantita Security which has led to savage attacks upon him and his team, not sparing the facilities put in place to enhance the smooth operations of the security outfit.
“Specifically on the night of February 9, 2024, or thereabouts, Chief Bilbor Ajube, popularly known as Shoot at Sight was reported to have led armed soldiers and his team to the office of Tantita Security located in Agadagba, ransacked it and destroyed all items of value, threatening to wipe out Tantita Security in Ondo State.
“Thereafter, Chief Bilbor Ajube called Senior High Chief Idowu Asonja threatening to kill him, to invade his base and to erase his traces, challenging him to choose a location where they should meet to battle. Our Client is a peace-loving citizen who is law-abiding and working to enforce the lawful security arrangements between his company and the federal government, in the spirit of patriotism.
“To this end, we call on all security agencies to investigate this disturbing development and call Chief Bilbor Ajube to order so that the peace currently being enjoyed in Ondo State will not be ruptured. We also call upon the government and people of Ondo State to hold Chief Bilbor Ajube accountable should anything untoward happen to our Client, Senior Chief Idowu Asonja.”
“Our client is in possession of photos and videos of the criminal invasion of his office and also the recorded conversation between him and Chief Bilbor Ajube wherein he threatened him with death and destruction,” the statement added.
