Operatives of the Nigerian military have destroyed a vessel seized with stolen crude by a private security company commanded by former militant, Government Ekpemupolo, better known as Tompolo, in the Niger-Delta.
The Navy personnel set the ill-fated vessel on fire along Warri River yesterday afternoon, following the confession of the ship’s captain, Temple Manasseh, that the vessel was carrying stolen crude.
The vessel, which was loaded with 600 to 650 cubic metres of stolen crude oil in five compartments, was arrested alongside its seven-member crew along the creeks in the Niger-Delta on October 6.
Recall that the ex-militant was awarded a controversial contract of N4bn monthly to protect pipeline installations in the Niger-Delta. Tompolo’s surveillance team had last week discovered major tapping points on the Trans-Forcados/Ramos Pipeline in Delta State through which International Oil Companies (IOCs), security officials, oil thieves, and locals allegedly colluded to steal crude oil.
The vessel was earlier moved to a non-residential area prior to its combustion by the military.
All efforts to reach out to the Nigerian military were unsuccessful as of the time of filing this report.
