The Niger-Delta Environmental Justice Coalition,  on Saturday, accused some prominent Niger-Delta leaders, Kingsley Kuku, former administrator of Presidential Amnesty Programme, ex-agitators, Bibopre Ajube, (General Shoot at Sight), Ebikabowei Victor-Ben (Gen. Boyloaf), the Olu of Itsekiri, Ogiame Atuwatse III of sponsoring unprovoked media attacks against Government Tompolo, the CEO of Tantita Group. 

In a statement by its spokesperson, Abalagha Adawari, the coalition alleged the attacks were aimed at undermining the crucial work by Tantita Group to protect Nigeria’s oil pipelines from widespread oil bunkering in the Niger-Delta region.

“These orchestrated character assassinations are not merely unfounded; they threaten to derail the critical efforts of Tompolo and his team,” the statement read.

This development was on the heels of an explosion that struck Trans-Niger Pipeline (TNP) operated by the Shell Petroleum Development Company and the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPC), amid a state of emergency in Rivers state.

Mr Adawari claimed the defamatory campaigns were masterminded by oil bunkers whose interests are jeopardised by Tantita’s vigilant operations.

“We urge those behind these malicious campaigns to cease their defamatory actions immediately,” Mr Adawari noted, stressing the attacks were to frustrate Mr Tompolo’s spirit and distract him from his essential mission of safeguarding national assets. 

Highlighting the coalition’s commitment to fighting oil theft and protecting the environment in the region, Mr Adawari thanked President Bola Tinubu for supporting Mr Tompolo and other individuals dedicated to safeguarding Nigeria’s oil and gas assets.

“The resolve of Tompolo and the Tantita Group remains steadfast; they will stop at nothing to ensure the security of Nigeria’s crude pipelines and to help the nation meet its OPEC quota targets,” the statement stressed.