Tantita Security Services Limited (TSSL) has arrested an ocean-going vessel conveying thousands of metric tonnes of ‘stolen crude’ oil offshore Bayelsa state.
This is in commitment to its resolve to rid Nigeria of oil thieves. The vessel, named MT Kally, was apprehended during a joint operation by the officials of TSSL, owned by government ‘Tompolo’ Ekpemupolo, and operatives of the Nigerian Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC), on Friday night.
According to Tantita, the engineer and captain of the vessel, who were identified as Promise Eze and Adeboye David, respectively, along with accomplices from some Bayelsa state oil communities, were kept on board the vessel on Friday night as investigation into the vessel continued.
Tantita said before they were apprehended, the crew and their local accomplices were allegedly syphoning crude oil into the vessel from the offshore Sokebolou field in Bayelsa state.
A preliminary report of the incident, according to the security firm, revealed that the first manifold of the vessel was being loaded before the intervention of the security team.
Executive Director, Tantita operations, Warredi Enisuoh, interrogated Eze and Adeboye, who said the vessel was mobilised from Lagos to transport crude oil illegally from offshore locations in Bayelsa State.
According to the duo, they departed Lagos following assurances by their boss, whom they declined to name, that all security agencies along the shore had been compromised, allowing them to carry out their illicit business.
Tantita disclosed that they refused to name the security agencies involved in the alliance, but revealed they work for a company named San-San.
Enisuoh said the vessel has been anchored at a location of Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC) Limited in Oporoza in Delta State and that the suspects were kept on board the vessel.