Tompolo’s Tantita Security Accused of Attacking Aja Jebele Community

The Itsekiri community of Aja Jebele, Omadino, in Delta State has been attacked by armed militants, allegedly linked to the Gbaramatu Ijaw community, just weeks after many returned to their ancestral home following years of displacement caused by the Warri crisis.

On December 3, 2024, assailants, reportedly from the Tantita security outfit, arrived in four speedboats armed with AK-47 rifles and other sophisticated weapons. The attack left one man critically injured, who is now receiving medical treatment in an undisclosed hospital in Warri. Several others sustained less severe injuries.

In a statement following the attack, Chairman of the Aja Jebele community, Mr. Joshua Ghereje, disclosed that the attackers looted vital resources, including foodstuffs, mattresses, mobile phones, solar lights, solar generators, gas cookers, and a pumping machine. The attackers chanted war songs in Ijaw, further heightening fears in the community.

This latest incident marks the continuation of long-standing tensions between the Ijaw and Itsekiri communities, which date back to the Warri crisis of the late 1990s and early 2000s. The Warri crisis displaced thousands of Itsekiri families, and although many have begun to return to their homes, their safety remains at risk due to the actions of some militant groups.

Aja Jebele is a community under Omadino, the aboriginal owners of the land, as declared in a Supreme Court ruling. Despite the state’s efforts to promote peace after the Warri crisis, the lack of effective protection for the returning Itsekiri people has allowed violence to persist. Members of the community, in a video seen by Warri Sentinel, accuse the Ijaws of Gbaramatu of exploiting the situation to further their own interests.

Community leaders have specifically called out Government Ekpemupolo, also known as Tompolo, the leader of the Tantita security outfit, accusing him of using his position to perpetrate violence under the guise of protecting the area. They argue that Tantita’s actions violate the terms of their contract and have warned that they will be forced to take matters into their own hands if the government fails to intervene.

“We are calling on the security agencies to provide us with the necessary protection, and if they do not, we will defend ourselves,” said Mr. Ghereje.

Speaking further, the Aja Jebele community chairman called on security agencies to intervene urgently. He appealed to Delta State Commissioner of Police, CP Olufemi Abaniwonda, Inspector General of Police, Kayode Egbetokun, Chief of Army Staff, Lieutenant General Olufemi Oluyede, and the Department of State Services (DSS) to investigate the incident and take swift action against the perpetrators.

He also appealed to Delta State Governor Sheriff Oborevwori and President Bola Tinubu to intervene and ensure the safety of the Aja Jebele community, as well as restore peace to the region.