Oil Theft: Tantita Security Reveals Names Linked To Arrested Vessel’s Operations, Fingers NNPCL Contract Seeker, Calls For Probe Of Oil Firms, OML103/OML110 Operators’ Activities

…accuses Navy of cover up, calls for investigation into shooting of security forces by Navy

Authorities of a privately owned pipeline security Surveillance company, Tantita Security Services Limited, have revealed identity of those allegedly behind the operations of the arrested crude oil theft Vessel in Ondo State.

BIGPEN NIGERIA (https://bigpenngr.com) had reported that the identified ship was apprehended while siphoning crude oil from a Wellhead/Jacket off the coast of Ondo State.

But controversy have started trailing the arrest as both Navy and Tantita Security disagreed over the vessel’s operations.

Preliminary report by Tantita Security revealed that the wellhead/jacket where the vessel was caught is situated between OML103/OML110 within the vicinity of Lat 5.993327°N Long 4.81681°E, was only a few kilometers off the coast of Ondo State, and within view of the Nigerian Navy’s FalconEye.

In a report made to the NNPC Command and Control Centre, Borno House, Abuja and signed by Capt. Warredi Enisuoh, Executive Director – Operations and Technical, Tantita Security Services Nigeria Limited, disclosed that the oil theft took place between OML103/OML110 (operated by CAVENDISH PETROLEUM NIGERIA LIMITED and CONSOLIDATED OIL) respectively.

Tantita said that there has been
one too many Crude Oil theft from Jackets within this same vicinity, calling on the Federal Government to investigate the activities of the oil firms.

The report also allegedly fingered an undisclosed NNPCL pipeline contract seeker who is purportedly linked to one Mr. IWATAN BAMITALE who is reportedly facing charges in court under similar circumstances.

The security firm, however called on the federal government to investigate activities of the CAVENDISH PETROLEUM NIGERIA LIMITED and CONSOLIDATED OIL respectively as well as the said BAMITALE to unreval their involved in the incessant crude theft in that axis.

They, also called for inquiry into the shooting directed at Tantita Operatives by the Nigerian Navy personnel on the gunboat marked “P491”.

Meanwhile, the Nigeria Navy has since denied the alleged involvement, saying that Tantita Security was raising false alarm against it’s personnel.

Naval Director of Information, Commodore AO AYO-VAUGHAN, in a statement said it is believed that Tantita Security Service (TSS) is involved in these illegalities because Awoye riverine area which is close to the place of arrest is covered by TSS.

“Again, it was upon the arrest of the vessel by the Nigerian Navy that TSS began to raise false alarm, totally unfounded and indeed mischievous. Nonetheless, the Nigerian Navy remains resolute in the pursuit of her constitutional mandate for the protection of Nigeria’s Maritime Environment for national economic development and prosperity”, the statement said.

The preliminary report by Tantita Security Services reads:

The respected attention of the NNPC Command and Control Centre is brought to the above subject matter which involving an unknown Oil Tanker stealing Crude Oil from a Wellhead Jacket situated at the borderline between OML 110 (operated by CAVENDISH PETROLEUM NIGERIA LIMITED) and OML 103 (operated by CONSOLIDATED OIL).

In the last week, Tantita Security Services Operatives in the Igbokoda axis of Ondo State has been receiving and gathering intelligence on a group of persons planning to steal Crude Oil off the coast of Ondo State.

Apparently, they had secured the thumbs-up from unknown security personnel as regards their intended operation. The mode of the stealing will be by ship, whose name has been obliterated and
unknown.

Chief amongst the beneficiaries of the planned operation is one Mr. IWATAN
BAMITALEwhom is currently facing
charges in court under similar circumstances.

The loading of the ship was to commence just before 2200hrs local time on the 6th of December 2023. Tantita Security Operatives got confirmation that the unknown ship is on location and has made
fast to the Well Jacket and that loading has commenced.At about 0300hrs local time Tantita Security Operatives set out to secure the scene of the crime via two boats. While underway, information reached us that the ship had onboard four AK-47 Riffles and Ammunitions and we should proceed with caution. This prompted us to have a change in plan from securing the ship in the dark to laying siege in the area, waiting for daylight hours.

As daylight approached, we approached the ship to have a clearer view. It was discovered that it had already connected
hoses from the Wellhead to its deck and loading had commenced. By this time, an
update also go to us that the Nigerian Navy Forward Operating Base has sent out gunboats in the direction of the crime scene as well. Their mission was to rescue the ship from the Tantita Operatives laying siege in the area and securing it from being boarded.

Not long after the information about the Navy gunboats came in,at about 0700hrs local time, two Navy Gunboats and one speed boat donated to the Nigerian Navy by the Ondo State government four years ago, approached and started firing warning shots. The Tantita Security
Operatives had no choice but to
abandon securing the crime scene and calling for backup from their Oporoza Base. Backup from Tantita’s Oporoza
base arrived on scene at about mid afternoon. They couldn’t approach the vessel which was still made fast to the Wellhead with its loading hose. We presume that loading was still in progress as the Nigerian Navy did all it could to protect the ship.

We refused to leave the area despite the Cat and Mouse chase between the Tantita Operatives and the Navy at sea. By evening time, we got information that the Navy had removed the Master of
the yet to be identified ship and
one other crew member to their base in Lagos, for reasons we consider obvious. From our deductions, owing to the short time span and lack of room given to the Crude Oil thieves and the size of the hoses, the ship hasn’t loaded much before its planned operation was disrupted. Though we are unsure as to how much she has taken since we couldn’t board the ship.

In the videos attached to this report, you could clearly see the Government Security forces attached to Tantita Security Operatives complaining about
how they were fired upon by the Nigerian Navy. A situation that continuously daunts us as we are. Our attention is also focused on the sponsor of the ill fated voyage of this unidentified ship, by the name of Mr. IWATAN BAMITALE. We have attached the charges filed against him and one Mr. DEMEHIN ADESAYO. In addition, find below photographs of some
of Mr. IWATAN BAMITALE’s victims whom are alive to tell their ordeal:

Further intelligence reaching Tantita Security Services is that Mr. IWATAN BAMITALE, is apparently connected and working with one of the persons approaching the NNPC for Pipeline Security Contract.

And also, Mr. IWATAN BAMITALE works with an expert living in Benin, specialized in tampering with Well Jackets for illegal off-take by ships. We are currently on his trail.

While Tantita Security Services will continue to lay siege and monitor the situation as it unfolds in addition as to the whereabouts of the Well Jacket Engineer, with updates, find below some of the recommendations coming into
mind at the moment, that would
require urgent attention:

The Nigerian Navy be implored to allow us bring the unidentified ship in for further investigation

The Navy should produce the Crew taken off the unidentified ship for questioning.

The Nigerian Navy should make sure that the stolen Crude Oil is not pumped out and the ship cleaned up.

The activities of going on inside of the Nigerian Navy’s FalconEye should be
investigated as the ship was only a few kilometers off the coast of Ondo State, well within view of the Nigerian Navy’s FalconEye, but they never reacted

The connection and acclaimed transactions between Mr. IWATAN BAMITALE and the said Pipeline Surveillance Company approaching NNPC for a contract
should be investigated

The activities of the employees of CAVENDISH PETROLEUM NIGERIA LIMITED and
CONSOLIDATED OIL should be closely looked into and investigated as there has been one too many Crude Oil theft from Jackets within this same vicinity

There should be an inquiry into the shooting directed at Tantita Operatives and the Government Security Forces attached to them by the Nigerian
Navy personnel on the gunboat marked “P491”.

Capt. Warredi Enisuoh,
Executive Director -Operations and Technical, Tantita Security Services Nigeria Limited