BY Kunle Daramola
Operatives of the Nigerian Navy ship (NNS) Beecroft have handed over four suspects allegedly arrested for oil theft to the Lagos state police command.
NAN reports that the suspects were arrested over an attempt to smuggle 11,000 litres of stolen crude oil.
Kolawole Oguntuga, the commander of the NNS Beecroft, said the arrest followed a distress call from members of the Itolu community in the Ibeju Lekki area of Lagos.
He said the community members reported sounds of gunshots and an alleged hijacking of an outboard engine boat belonging to one Ishola Ojubuyi.
“The team recovered the engine and apprehended the four Tantita employees,” Oguntuga said.
“It was after this arrest that the patrol team realised that the four individuals were part of the movement of a large wooden boat with two fibre boats.
“The four arrested individuals beckoned on the two fibre boats to approach them, but when they noticed NN patrol teams, the boats altered courses, fled, and abandoned the large wooden boat laden with 11 x 1000-liter Geepee tanks with products suspected to be stolen crude oil.”
Tantita Security Services Limited is a private outfit owned by Government Ekpemupolo, a Niger Delta agitator, also known as Tompolo.
The navy commander added that one Owoyele Omotuyi, the chief security officer (CSO) of Tantita Security Limited, was also detained after attempting to secure the suspects’ release on bail.
Oguntuga who handed the suspects over to the police on Friday, said the action was to ensure further investigation and prosecution as part of the synergies in crime fighting by the navy.
Idowu Owohunwa, the commissioner of police in Lagos, received the suspects and the exhibits at the command’s headquarters.
He said the handing over of the suspects was a sign that security agencies operating in the state are united in crime fighting.
“We are taking the suspects for further investigation. We will track down those at large. This synergy is a continuous operation,” he said.
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