Four individuals suspected of involvement in crude oil theft have been arrested in Delta State as part of ongoing efforts to curb economic sabotage in the Niger Delta.
The suspects were apprehended following the interception of a vessel, MT Thor, and are expected to face prosecution for alleged economic sabotage. Their arrest was announced during the formal handover of the suspects at Koko Port, Delta State, by Tantita Security Services Limited (TSSNL), a company contracted for pipeline surveillance operations in the region.
Speaking at the handover, the Executive Director of Operations at Tantita, Captain Warredi Enisouh, disclosed that the suspects were arrested aboard MT Thor with an unspecified quantity of petroleum products suspected to have been illegally sourced.
A situation report issued by the Special Prosecution Team (SPT) of the Inter-Agency Task Force on Petroleum Product Theft revealed that the interception took place on December 15, 2025 along the Koko–Excravos axis of Delta State.
According to the report, Tantita alerted the Head of Investigation of the SPT after stopping MT Thor, which was allegedly conveying crude oil obtained through unlawful means. It was further alleged that the vessel was being escorted by personnel of the Police Marine Unit in Delta State, who reportedly claimed they were acting on instructions from the Force Intelligence Department (FID), Abuja.
Preliminary investigations by security agencies indicated that the vessel, now listed as an exhibit in an ongoing criminal probe, is linked to a jetty operated by Ebenco Global Services Limited. Investigators confirmed that documents and correspondence associated with the jetty had been obtained and were undergoing detailed examination.
The report added that the jetty owner, identified as Mr. Ebenezer, was contacted by investigators and provided additional documents, including court orders, which are also being reviewed as part of the investigation.
On December 16, a joint investigation team led by the Head of Investigation of the SPT carried out a joint inspection visit to Koko. The team initially met at Tantita’s corporate headquarters in Warri for a briefing, which was attended by the jetty owner.
During the inspection, attempts were made to obtain samples from MT Thor, but this could not be done immediately as the vessel had not yet arrived at the jetty, having been towed from its earlier location by security operatives.
While awaiting the vessel’s arrival, the team inspected other containers suspected to be holding crude oil within the premises of Ebenco Global Links Limited. Samples were taken from a storage barge at the location.
MT Thor eventually berthed at about 8:30 p.m. on December 16, leading the joint team to suspend sampling and related procedures until the following day. As of December 17, 2025, investigators were reported to be on their way to Koko to continue sample collection and conclude investigation processes.
Receiving the suspects, the Head of the Special Prosecution Team of the Inter-Agency Task Force, Omar Sini, reiterated the Federal Government’s commitment to dismantling crude oil theft networks in the Niger Delta, assuring that all findings would be thoroughly investigated and prosecuted in accordance with the law.