Tension in the Niger Delta: Tompolo Solidarity Forum Warns Jude Gbabojor Over Alleged Paid Solidarity Campaigns
By Dr. Odimientimi Agbedeyi
A fresh wave of controversy has erupted in the Niger Delta following a stern warning issued by the Tompolo Solidarity Forum to Niger Delta activist Jude Gbabojor, over what the group described as “paid solidarity campaigns” allegedly aimed at destabilizing the region’s existing pipeline surveillance structure.
In a strongly worded statement made available to journalists, the forum accused Gbabojor of promoting narratives designed to undermine the Federal Government-backed pipeline surveillance arrangement currently being executed by stakeholders across the Niger Delta.
Central to the controversy is the involvement of prominent Niger Delta leader Government Oweizide Ekpemupolo, popularly known as Tompolo, whose security outfit has been playing a key role in safeguarding oil pipelines across the region.
According to the Tompolo Solidarity Forum, the surveillance initiative was designed as a strategic intervention to curb the menace of crude oil theft, pipeline vandalism, and illegal bunkering activities that have long crippled Nigeria’s oil sector.
The forum emphasized that the arrangement has recorded significant success since its implementation, noting that improved surveillance has helped restore relative peace in oil-producing communities while boosting national oil output.
However, the group alleged that certain actors are now attempting to politicize the initiative by organizing campaigns and gatherings intended to discredit the system.
Abuja gathering sparks concern
Part of the concern raised by the forum revolves around a gathering reportedly held in Abuja on March 31, 2026, where a few Niger Delta youths and leaders met to discuss issues surrounding pipeline surveillance operations in the region.
The forum described the meeting as unnecessary and misleading, arguing that it did not represent the collective position of the Niger Delta people.
According to the group, such gatherings risk projecting the region in a negative light before the Federal Government and the international community.
“The Niger Delta must not be portrayed as divided at a time when stakeholders are working hard to sustain peace and stability in the region,” the statement noted.
Alleged attempts to mobilize former agitators
The Tompolo Solidarity Forum further alleged that Gbabojor had been attempting to mobilize some former militant agitators to support a campaign advocating the decentralization of the existing pipeline surveillance structure.
According to the group, such a move could create unhealthy rivalry among stakeholders and potentially weaken a system that has already proven effective in protecting vital oil infrastructure.
The forum stressed that the surveillance framework currently in place is not limited to a single ethnic group or interest bloc.
Rather, it explained, the initiative involves collaboration among leaders and stakeholders from both Ijaw and non-Ijaw ethnic nationalities across the Niger Delta.
The group therefore warned against attempts to frame the issue along ethnic or sectional lines.
Call for unity and responsible advocacy
Beyond the immediate controversy, the forum used the opportunity to call for unity among Niger Delta leaders, youth organizations, and civil society actors.
It noted that the region has endured decades of environmental degradation, economic hardship, and political neglect, making peace and cooperation among stakeholders more important than ever.
According to the forum, the pipeline surveillance program represents one of the few initiatives that have successfully created employment opportunities for local youths while simultaneously protecting national economic assets.
The group warned that campaigns capable of fueling division or rivalry could reverse the progress made in recent years.
Warning issued to Gbabojor
While acknowledging that democratic societies allow for criticism and debate, the Tompolo Solidarity Forum insisted that sponsored or paid campaigns aimed at destabilizing peace-building efforts in the Niger Delta should be avoided.
The group therefore urged Jude Gbabojor to desist from actions capable of creating unnecessary tension in the region.
It also called on security agencies and the Federal Government to remain vigilant against attempts to politicize security arrangements designed to safeguard Nigeria’s oil infrastructure.
According to the forum, the Niger Delta must move forward with unity of purpose, focusing on development, peace, and economic growth rather than internal disputes.
As debates surrounding pipeline surveillance contracts continue to unfold, stakeholders across the region are being urged to prioritize dialogue and cooperation in order to sustain the fragile stability currently being enjoyed in many oil-producing communities.
Source: Tompolo Solidarity Forum Statement
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