TheCable

Operatives of Tantita Security Services Limited have clashed with the Nigerian Navy over a “massive” crude oil vessel arrested in the coastal waters of Ondo state.

The vessel was intercepted after it was spotted loading crude oil from a well head off the coast of Ondo.

A joint team of soldiers, personnel of the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC), and operatives of Tantita, a private security firm owned by Government ‘Tompolo’ Ekpemupolo, reportedly accosted the vessel which had naval personnel on board.

The naval personnel reportedly declined a request by the Nigerian National Petroleum Company (NNPC) Limited that the vessel be moved to its jetty at Oporoza for a joint inspection.

They were said to have claimed that the navy had arrested the vessel and was transporting it to one of its bases.

The naval personnel reportedly fired shots to ward off the security operatives from accessing the vessel.

“They have been shooting all day, resulting in yet another standoff between Tantita and security operatives,” a source told TheCable.

Tantita operatives, who are implementing a pipeline protection contract with the NNPC and the federal government, were said to have insisted on taking the vessel for joint inspection.

NAVY: TANTITA RAISING FALSE ALARM

Speaking on the development, the Nigerian Navy said it arrested the vessel, with 17 crew members on board, engaging in illegal siphoning of crude oil.

Adedotun Ayo-Vaughan, the navy’s spokesperson, said the arrest was based on intelligence on the activities of crude oil thieves at the location.

“Notably, as the anti-Crude Oil Theft Patrol Team of FOB Igbokoda approached MT VINNALARIS 1 Lagos, the two boats attached to the vessel fled on sighting the Naval personnel which confirmed the engagement of the vessel in illegality,” he said.

“The vessel’s storage capacity is about 15,000 metric tonnes and as of the time of arrest, she had loaded about 500 Metric tonnes of crude oil.”

The navy also accused Tantita of complicity in “these illegalities”, saying the “Awoye riverine area which is close to the place of arrest is covered by TSS”.

“Again, it was upon the arrest of the vessel by the Nigerian Navy that TSS began to raise false alarms, totally unfounded and indeed mischievous,” the naval spokesperson said.