In a shocking revelation that shakes the foundation of Nigeria’s fight against oil theft, the Nigerian Navy Ship DELTA reported the discovery of an extensive illegal refinery in Yeye Creek, Gbaramatu, Delta State on Tuesday, April 15, 2025. Thirteen pits filled with stolen crude oil and numerous gallons of illicitly refined Automotive Gas Oil (AGO) were uncovered, prompting questions about the integrity of Tantita Security Services, a company headed by the controversial figure, Tompolo.

Gbaramatu, known as Tompolo’s ancestral home, raises significant alarms regarding the integrity of Tantita Security Services, which was purportedly established to safeguard Nigeria's pipelines and combat oil theft. How could such a sprawling illegal operation exist right under the nose of an organization that claims to be the bulwark against oil theft? The answer may lie in the allegations spiraling around Tompolo, suggesting complicity in the very crimes his organization claims to fight.

Sources have reported numerous instances linking Tompolo and Tantita Security Services to illegal bunkering activities — not just in the creeks of Delta State but also extending to the high seas and neighboring regions such as Bayelsa, Ondo, and Akwa Ibom. These areas, often claimed to be under the vigilant watch of Tantita, have ironically become hotspots for rampant oil theft. They raise critical questions about the effectiveness and sincerity of the security service established by Tompolo.

Local communities and whistleblowers have voiced their concerns, alleging that individuals involved in the illegal operations were operating with tacit approval from Tantita Security Services. Such claims cast a long shadow over Tompolo, posing serious credibility issues for the company’s purported mission to fight oil theft and, by extension, diverting a portion of government funding allocated for security operations.

The Navy’s operation serves as a stark reminder that while official battles are being waged against crude oil theft, systemic corruption and collusion might allow these illegal practices to thrive unchecked. With each passing day, Tompolo’s image as a guardian against oil theft appears more compromised, as suspicions mount that his organization may instead be a conduit for corruption, funneling government resources while turning a blind eye to criminal activities.

As the investigation unfolds, the public is left wondering how many more illegal operations lurk in the shadows and whether the very individuals tasked with safeguarding national assets are instead betraying the country they purport to serve. Tompolo’s future now hangs in the balance as these grave allegations threaten to unravel not just his reputation but the entire framework of security established to protect Nigeria’s oil resources.