Tantita Security Services Limited (TSSL), a private security firm owned by Government ‘Tompolo’ Ekpemupolo, says it has arrested an ocean-going vessel conveying thousands of metric tonnes of ‘stolen crude’ oil off-shore Bayelsa State.
The vessel, named: ‘MT Kally’, was said to be apprehended in a joint operation by the officials of TSSL 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 identified themselves 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 an investigation into the vessel continued.
Tantita said before they were apprehended, the crew and their local accomplices were allegedly syphoning crude oil onto the vessel from the off-shore Sokebolou field in Bayelsa State.
According to Tantita, a preliminary report of the incident revealed the first manifold of the vessel was being loaded before the intervention of the security team. The Executive Director, Tantita Operations, Warredi Enisuoh, interrogated Eze and Adeboye, who said the vessel was mobilised from Lagos to transport crude oil illegally from off-shore 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 said they however 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 NNPC in Oporoza in Delta State, saying the suspects were kept on board the vessel.
