… Says accusations against Tompolo false
The Concerned Citizens Of Arogbo- Ibe Kingdom in Ese-Odo Local Government Area of Ondo State, on Friday accused Chief Bibopere Ajube, (alias General Shoot-At- Sight) of alleged kidnapping, illegal oil bunkering, possession of fire arms, explosive dynamites and other crimes.
The group who were reacting to a publication in a national daily, (not this medium) with the title “An Open Letter To The President Of The Federal Republic Of Nigeria, His Excellency, Senator Bola Ahmed Tinubu On Disguised Moves By Chief Government Ekpemupolo Aka Tompolo To Instigate Crisis In Arogbo – Ijaw Kingdom, Ese – odo local government area of Ondo State,” stated that this accusation were false.
The group in a statement made available to newsmen and signed by it’s President, Timi Layefa, noted that Ajube, the Arogbo warlord, was unto one of his antics again, after sending his armed boys to attack and vandalize Tantita’s operational outposts in Ondo State waterways, stressing that the incident led to serious injuries being inflicted on Tantita field operatives.
They said that Tantita’s representative in Ondo State, Mr. Idowu Asonja, has been giving Shoot-at- Sight and his illicit business partners sleepless nights, in the fight to crush illegal bunking in the area.
The group said, “According to reports gathered in the area, after loading crude in the high sea, Shoot-at-Sight and his boys, have a sales point at Mese, a boundary community between Delta and Ondo states, along the waterways, where they sell stolen crude oil to those illegally refining diesel and kerosene.”
The group therefore, demanded that the Federal Government should assist in providing security cover and safety for Mr. Idowu Asonja and other personnel of Tantita Security Services Nigeria Limited (TSSNL), as they go about locating sites of crude theft and arrest of criminals involved in the illicit operations.
“Chief Bibopere Ajube, alias Shoot-at-Sight and members of his private Army, under the aegis of Gallery Security Services Limited, be put under 24/7 surveillance and checked, by the armed forces and other security agencies. They should be prevented from interfering with the legitimate activities of Tantita Security Services Nigeria Limited in any part of Ondo State.
“Relevant security agencies should investigate the threats being made by Chief Bibopiri Ajube, alias Shoot-at-Sight, to renew the hitherto forgotten fracticidal war between the Ilaje/Ijaw peoples of the coastal waters of Ondo state,” the statement read.
The group stressed that Shoot-at-Sight and his gang of oil thieves have futilely tried to cause the decentralization of Tantita’s pipelines surveillance contracts.
They added that Shoot At Sight’s grudge against Tompolo, was that, as a sub-contractor, Tantita terminated his non-performing surveillance contracts in the waterways of Ondo State for allegedly conniving with oil thieves, noting that Shoot at Sight, aided and abetted oil bunkering in Ondo State waterways for years.
They said Ajube and his gang of criminals do not want Tantita in Ondo state waterways for self aggrandizement.
The statement reads in part; “We refer to the Vanguard Newspapers publication of Monday, February 12, 2024, page 15, on the above subject matter.
“Nothing can be so far from the truth, than that which was portrayed in the publication.
“The piece was a figment of the imagination of the mastermind, Chief Bibopere Ajube, alias general shoot-at- sight. He creates intrigues for a living.
“The Arogbo warlord is unto one of his antics again, after sending his armed boys to attack and vandalize Tantita’s operational outposts in Ondo State waterways. The incident led to serious injuries being inflicted on Tantita field operatives.
“Chief Ajube is a pretentious fellow. A wicked man runs when no one is after him. To preempt Tantita’s reaction to the havoc his armed agents wreaked on Tantita outpost and staff, he hurriedly went to the press, with the useless publication under reference, thinking that the first to make noise is the one to be believed. Ignorance is indeed a disease.
“Shoot at sight has always bellyached over Tantita’s success in securing federal government oil assets surveillance contracts. It beats his warped mind that Chief Government Ekpemupolo, Tantita’s founder, is able to get FG contracts, while his security company, still plays the local league in Ondo State. It does gives him sleepless nights. Hence, he often resort to manipulate issues to taint Tantita.
“An x- ray of the hurriedly concocted publication in the Vanguard revealed quite a lot. The text exposed Chief Ajube’s amateur tendencies, and the caricature scene he tried to paint. It was an embodiment of fabrications. Apart from the non existent of the group: Arogbo Ibe Solidarity Forum that authored the publication, its signatories are also faceless. The two names don’t ring a bell amongst the Arogbo people.
“In the haste to publish, the two signatories, had the same appellation of group president ascribed to both. How can two presidents be in one group?How would they function?
“It is unfortunate and shameful that over the years, general Shoot-at-Sight, has remained same in his ways. He thrives only in wrong doings.
“It is the same, shoot at sight, who talked about averting Ilaje/Ijaw crisis, that masterminded the last crisis. He promoted hate and division among the people, then sowed seeds of war in their hearts.
“He is, however, reaping bountifully today from the crisis he created. The crisis gave birth to his Gallary Security Services Limited and other outfits, from which he is reaping billions from the Ondo State Government.
“In fact, he still fans the amber of crisis in the waterways as always. It is the only means to survival that he knows.
“There are also evidence that they also have sales points at Agadagba, an enclave of Shoot-at-Sight and Araromi in Ondo state, where they sell illegally refined diesel and other products, into tankers.
“Shoot-at-Sight is the one promoting war and rivalry between Ilaje and Ijaw. Tension in the area helps his illicit business.
“Mr. Idowu Asonja, an Ilaje and representative of Tantita, leads the charge on illegal bunkering in Ondo. His onslaught are of serious worries to Shoot-at-Sight. He is therefore not happy as the battle has crippled his profiteering from illegal bunkering.
“The ordinary people of Ilaje and Ijaw in Ondo State know that Tompolo has been the one promoting peaceful co-existence in the areas.
“They know that Shoot- at-Sight is the architect of their tumultous coexistence in the past. And they are tired of being used as canon folders by him to enrich himself and others.
“Those antagonizing Tantita and Idowu Asonja, in Ondo waterways are gang of oil bunkerers, kidnappers and gun-runners. They possess high calibre weapons with which they terrorize the waterways of Ondo State.”
