The Ijaw people of Gbaramatu kingdom at the weekend accused the Itsekiri ethnic nationality of inciting crisis by allegedly urging Itsekiri youths to attack Ijaws of Gbaramatu working for Tantita Security Services Nigeria Limited, a pipeline surveillance company owned by Tompolo.

At a media briefing, the President of Gbaramatu Youths Council (GYC), Kingsley E. Arerebo, alleged that a popular Itsekiri leader, Michael Diden, posted an inciting video on social media where he instructed Itsekiris to attack Ijaws.

He said, “The attention of the Gbaramatu Youth Council (GYC) has been drawn to a reckless and inciting video currently circulating on various social media platforms. In the video, one Evang. Michael Diden, also known as Ejele, calls for attacks on Ijaw individuals from Gbaramatu kingdom employed by Tantita Security Services Nigeria Limited, simply for performing their legitimate duties, particularly when oil thieves use Itsekiri communities as cover for their illegal activities.

“We firmly believe that Ejele’s bitterness stems from the disruption of his alleged involvement in illegal oil bunkering by Tantita’s operations. Frustrated by the clampdown on oil theft, he now seeks to incite ethnic unrest to create a haven for his illegal trade. This makes it imperative for the federal government to monitor his activities and prevent him from destabilising the relative peace in the region.”

Arerebo stressed that Tantita Security Services Nigeria Limited is a company and a national security contractor with employees who cut across several ethnic Nationalities, including thousands of youths of Itsekiri origin.

He urged the federal government to take the threats issued by Diden, a one-time Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) senatorial candidate in Delta South district, seriously.

Arerebo said Diden’s attempt to incite Itsekiri youths against Tantita employees carrying out national assignments is dangerous and irresponsible.

The GYC president emphasised that the oil and gas industry suffered for years from illegal bunkering and vandalism and that since its inception, Tantita Security Services Nigeria Limited has recovered billions of dollars in stolen crude, disrupted illegal refining operations, and contributed significantly to environmental protection.