Surveillance Contracts: Attacks Against Olu of Warri Unacceptable – Niger Delta Youths Warn

The umbrella body representing all ethnic nationalities in the Niger Delta States, the Niger Delta Ethnic Nationalities Youth Leaders Forum for Peace and Development, has called on President Bola Tinubu and the service chiefs to intervene in response to an alleged attempt by some aggrieved former militant leaders to provoke security infractions in the region.

This follows recent derogatory statements made against Pipeline Infrastructure Nigeria Limited (PINL), a company chaired by His Imperial Majesty, the Olu of Warri, Ogiame Atuwatse III (CFR).

According to the group, the individuals in question—self-identified as the “Aggrieved Niger Delta Freedom Fighters Forum”—recently released a statement via social media urging the Presidency to revoke the legally awarded pipeline surveillance contract granted to PINL. The youth leaders described the group as “faceless” and their statements as reckless, lacking support from the region’s ethnic nationalities.

In an open letter titled “Condemnation of Crisis-Inciting Statements Against PINL and the Olu of Warri – A Call for Urgent Presidential Intervention”, the forum, led by National President Snr. Amb. Tamuno James (Rivers), and co-signed by other representatives including Oritsemeyuwa (Itsekiri), Comr. Udoh Akpan Bassey (Ibibio – Akwa Ibom), Comr. Paul Oromosele (Edo), Comr. Aruwotonye (Ogoni), Comr. Fred Tijala (Ilaje – Ondo), Snr. Comr. Asuquo Akpan (Efik – Cross River), Comr. Hope Agadaba (Bayelsa), Comr. Amos Keledichuwu (Igbo – Imo State), Snr. Comr. Ejiro Oghenerume a.k.a. Last Don (Urhobo – Delta State), Comr. Ufuoma Oterioghene (Isoko – Delta State), and Snr. Comr. Ifeanyi Ebele (Ndokwa – Delta State), outlined their position.

The letter, made available to newsmen via electronic mail after an emergency meeting convened in Port Harcourt by Snr. Comr. Amb. Tamuno James, strongly condemned the recent statement issued by the so-called ‘Aggrieved Niger Delta Freedom Fighters Forum’.

The group stated: “We express, in the strongest terms, our outright condemnation of the recent reckless statement by a faceless and non-existent group calling itself the ‘Aggrieved Niger Delta Freedom Fighters Forum’.”

“This so-called group recently released a misguided and highly provocative petition on social media, calling on Your Excellency, Sir, to terminate the legally awarded pipeline surveillance contract currently executed by Pipeline Infrastructure Nigeria Limited (PINL), a company chaired by His Imperial Majesty, the Olu of Warri, Ogiame Atuwatse III (CFR).”

“We regard such calls as nothing short of an open invitation to chaos and a calculated attempt to destabilize the fragile peace the Niger Delta has worked hard to maintain over the years. The baseless suggestion that PINL should be barred from operating in Ijaw territories is a direct affront to peace, unity, and the collective aspirations of the region’s ethnic nationalities.”

“This claim is false and mischievous. It is on record that PINL employs all surveillance and security personnel directly from host communities, including Ijaw territories along the Trans Niger Pipeline (TNP) corridor.”

“Among all surveillance contractors in the Niger Delta, PINL remains the only one that holds monthly stakeholder engagement meetings with traditional rulers, women’s groups, youth leaders, and community representatives—including the IYC, MOSEIND, Ogoni Youth Council, Bonny Federated Body, and others—in Rivers and Bayelsa States, with officials from NNPC Limited, the National Security Adviser’s office, and the military in attendance.”

“The claim that PINL is involved in bunkering is unfounded. The PINL-managed sections of the Trans Niger Pipeline—spanning Bonny to Nembe Creek and across host communities in Bayelsa, Rivers, Abia, and Imo States—have remained vandalism-free for years.”

“This exceptional record is recognized by the Ministry of Petroleum Resources, NNPC Limited, and the Office of the National Security Adviser. No other contractor has matched this performance.”

“The alleged link between the Olu of Warri and a British national found with weapons is spurious and defamatory. His Imperial Majesty, Ogiame Atuwatse III (CFR), is a globally respected first-class monarch, a peace ambassador across the Middle East and Africa, and an internationally educated statesman with numerous academic honors.”

“He cannot be associated with faceless individuals who offer no legal proof of land ownership within the Warri Kingdom.”

“The communities cited—such as Okenrenkoko to Okenrenghigho, Oporoza to Opuraza, and Azama to Azatiton—have long histories and names rooted in their original linguistic and cultural evolution. The claim of ‘forceful renaming’ is a deliberate misrepresentation intended to stoke ethnic tension.”

The forum concluded, “We, the youth leaders from all ethnic nationalities in the Niger Delta, remain committed to peace, justice, and equitable development. We trust in your leadership and urge you to treat this matter with the urgency it requires to prevent the resurgence of crisis in our region.”