Tantita In Another Major Oil Theft Clampdown, Intercepts Ocean-Going Vessel Laded With Stolen Crude In Bayelsa

In a significant victory against crude oil theft in the Niger Delta, Tantita Security Services Limited (TSSL), a private oil pipelines security provider, has impounded an ocean-going vessel in Bayelsa state.

BIGPEN NIGERIA (https://bigpenngr.com) reports that the vessel, named MT Kally, was carrying an unspecified amount of stolen crude oil when it was apprehended.

The joint operation involved TSSL officials and the Nigerian Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC).

The engineer, Promise Eze and captain, Adeboye David and accomplices were detained on board the vessel as investigations continued.

Sources said that the incident raises questions about the Nigerian Navy’s ability to combat oil theft, as the vessel went undetected.

TSSL has reported the success to the National Security Officer and the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited.

It was gathered that the crew and their local accomplices were siphoning crude oil onto the vessel from offshore Sokebolou field in Bayelsa state, before nemesis caught up with them.

According to preliminary report of the incident made available to newsmen, the first manifold of the vessel was being loaded before the intervention of the security team.

Findings showed that the management of TSSL has reported the major feat to the National Security Officer (NSA), Mallam Nuhu Ribadu and the board and management of the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPCL).

One source said, “Tongues are wagging on how the vessel escaped the prying eyes of the Nigerian Navy, which has various formations in the offshore locations in Bayelsa state”.

It was learnt that the leadership of the Navy was ruffled that the feat was achieved by a private security outfit, hours after the security agency launched a new outfit, “Operation Delta Sanity”, with fanfare in Warri, Delta state.

The event was performed by the Chief of Naval Staff, Vice-Admiral Emmanuel Ogalla.

The Navy has been roundly accused of failure to safeguard the nation’s economic assets by allegedly conniving with the crude oil thieves.

Confirming the development,the Executive Director, Operations, TSSL, Captain Warriedi Enisuoh, disclosed that Eze and Adeboye, who were interrogated by officials had confessed to the alleged crime.

The suspects told interrogators that the vessel was mobilised from Lagos to load crude oil illegally from offshore locations in Bayelsa state.

According to them, they departed Lagos following assurances by their boss, whom they declined to name, that all security agencies along the shore have been compromised to give them unfettered passage to carry out the illicit business.

But they also refused to name the security agencies involved in the unholy alliance.

They gave their company’s name as San-San.

Enisuoh told newsmen last night that the vessel has been anchored at a location of NNPCL in Oporoza in Delta state.

He said that the suspects were kept on board the vessel as investigations continued on Friday.