TheCable

Tantita Security Services Limited (TSSL), a private security firm, says it has arrested an ocean-going vessel conveying thousands of metric tonnes of ‘stolen crude’ oil offshore Bayelsa state.

The vessel, named MT Kally, was said to be apprehended in 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 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 offshore Sokebolou field in Bayelsa state.

A preliminary report of the incident, according to Tantita, revealed the first manifold of the vessel was being loaded before the intervention of the security team.

Warredi Enisuoh, executive director, Tantita operations, 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 said 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 NNPC in Oporoza in Delta state, saying the suspects were kept on board the vessel.