By Ola ‘Kiya, Reporting
OPERATIVES of Tantita Security Services Nigeria Ltd (TSSNL), in collaboration with the Nigerian Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC), have apprehended another crude oil-thieving vessel in the Niger Delta.
This is coming few hours after the Nigerian Navy, led by the Chief of Naval Staff, Vice-Admiral Emmanuel Ogalla, launched a new outfit, “Operation Delta Sanity” with pomp in Warri, Delta State, with a mandate to halt oil theft and other forms of criminality in its area of operations.
The thieving vessel, MT Kali with number 8782800, was intercepted late Thursday while allegedly transporting a yet-to-be-ascertained tonnes of illegal crude oil from offshore Sokebolou Field base in Bayelsa State.
TSSNL, a pipeline surveillance security firm, is owned by a former militant commander in the oil-rich Niger Delta, Chief Government Ekpemupolo, alias Tompolo and has been recording immense successes in reducing high scale crude oil theft in its area of operations..
Among those arrested and kept in custody aboard the vessel as of Friday night are Promise Eze and David Adeboye, who were identified as the engineer and captain of the vessel.
Adeboye was quoted as saying their accomplices included some compromising folks in some oil communities in Bayelsa State.
Stonix News gathered that the crew and their local accomplices were siphoning crude oil into the vessel from offshore Sokebolou Field in Bayelsa State when the combined operatives of TSSNL and NSCDC intercepted them.
It was gathered that the first manifold of the vessel was being loaded with the crude oil before the interception of the security operatives.
TSSNL is said to have informed the National Security Officer (NSA), Mallam Nuhu Ribadu and the board and management of the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Ltd (NNPCL) of the development.
The two principal suspects, Eze and Adeboye were grilled by the Executive Director, Operations, TSSNL, Captain Warriedi Enisuoh who said the vessel was mobilised from Lagos to load crude oil illegally from offshore locations in Bayelsa State.
Ekiti State-born Adeboye, according to Enisuoh, said the vessel departed Lagos following assurances by their boss, whom they identified as one Adeniyi, that all security agencies (which he didn’t name) along the shore had been “settled” for a free passage.
He, however, identified the thieving company’s name as San-San.
As of Friday night, the thieving vessel, MT Kali, is said to have been anchored at an NNPCL location in Oporoza, the headquarters of Gbaramatu Kingdom in Delta State, while further investigations are said to be ongoing.
Stonix News reports that tongues have been wagging on how the vessel escaped the prying eyes of the Nigerian Navy, which has various formations in the offshore locations in Bayelsa State.
With myriad allegations of compromise on its neck, the leadership of the Navy was reportedly ruffled that the feat was achieved by a private security outfit, just few hours after it launched “Operation Delta Sanity”, in Warri.
CNS Ogalla during the launch of the new naval outfit in Warri last Wednesday
Vice Adm. Ogalla had flagged-off the Operation on Wednesday at NPA Jetty, Warri, describing it as timely considering the renewed effort of the Federal Government toward attaining sustainable development of Blue Economy.
Vice Adm. Ogalla had noted that the menace of crude oil theft and illegal bunkering had constituted a substantial threat to the nation’s economic development and prosperity.
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