From Mike Tayese, Yenagoa

There was rising tension in Communities in Opuama Kingdom of Southern Ijaw Local Government Council of Bayelsa state following the alleged invasion by armed operatives of the Tantita Security Company.

It was gathered that over seven indigenes of the Opuama kingdom were seriously beaten and injured under the alleged guise of searching for suspected oil thieves.

Opuama kingdom is made up of 14 autonomous communities and 48 fishing settlements in Southern Ijaw and host multimillion dollars oil assets operated by SPDC, NAOC and Chevron.

The Territorial Youth President of the Opuama Kingdom, Omatebe Foster Kurotimi and the Technical Assistant to the Bayelsa Governor on General Duties, Hon.

They confirmed that a particular youths, who was loading sands in his boat at the waterside and waved down the speed boat of the Tantita operatives to slow down in other to prevent  his sand filled canoe from  capsizing, was dragged to the waterside and flogged with horse whips and machete.

Others reportedly injured were dragged from their homes and injured in the struggle.

The Territorial Youth President of the Opuama Kingdom, Comrade Omatebe Foster Kurotimi, while speaking with newsmen in Yenagoa, said though a formal protest has been filed with the State Headquarters of the DSS and the Zone 16 Command of the Nigerian Police.

Kurotimi warned that despite the fact that Opuama Youths are law-abiding and peaceful; the invasion of the communities by Tantita operatives is threatening the peace in the area.

In his position, the Technical Assistant to the Bayelsa Governor on General Duties, Opumie Collins Trueman expressed disappointment over the action of Tantita operatives and called on the Federal,State and security agencies to investigate the incident to avoid possible confrontation between angry Opuama Youths with the Tantita security operatives.

Trueman also denied the alleged involvement of Opuama youths in illegal oil bunkering, the era of militancy and vices are over and the youths have become gainfully engaged.

 “I also want to caution and call on the NSA, the Federal and State Government, the Chief of Defence Staff to call these Tantita operatives to order. These Tantita operatives should be professionals. And even the Security operatives working with them should be more professional.”

Trueman called on Gov. Douye Diri to intervene and stop the Tantita operatives from provoking bloody confrontation between the Opuama Youths and Tantita security,” I have however called on my people to remain calm and expect intervention from the relevant authorities.”

Speaking to our correspondent in the spirit of anonymity, a source from the company said, the incident did not happen the way they are painting it. Saying it’s not only Tantita that is doing surveillance work in those communities and problems like this can only happen if the suspect resists arrest.

He said, it didn’t happen the way they painted it, adding that any incident that happened there, they will call Tantita name. “They have Labarado, Navy, Dallon and other security agencies working there. About four surveillance companies operating in the area”.