Arrested vessel
Tompolo’s Tantita arrests another big vessel with heavy stolen crude
Another big vessel has been arrested by Tantita Security Services Limited (TSSL) with stolen crude in offshore Bayelsa State.
TSSL, a private security company owned by Chief Government Ekpemupolo, alias Tompolo, was contracted by the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited, NNPCL, in a bid to stem the trend of stolen crude in the Niger Delta area.
The arrested vessel, identified as MT Kally, was said to be carrying thousands of metric tonnes of crude oil at the time of its arrest by personnel of TSSL in collaboration with the operatives of tbe National Security and Civil Defence Corps, NSCDC, on Thursday.
Indications are that both TSSL and NSCDC were acting on intelligent report which led to the impounding of the loaded crude oil vessel.
The operatives also arrested crew members, including the engineer and captain of the vessel, Promise Eze and Adeboye David, respectively.
Members of some oil communities in Bayelsa who alleged to be working with the crew members were also arrested by the operatives, while the team was siphoning crude oil onto the vessel from offshore Sokebolou field.
Sources within TSSL confirmed the arrest of the vessel, saying that the news of the arrest has been reported to the office of the National Security Officer (NSA), Nuhu Ribadu, and the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPCL).
Upon interrogation, Eze and Adeboye had confessed to the Executive Director, Operations, TSSL, Captain Warriedi Enisuoh, that the crude oil on the vessel was a stolen product.
They also said the vessel was mobilised from Lagos to load crude oil illegally from offshore locations in the Niger Delta region.
They also disclosed that they work for a company identified as San-San, adding that they were in the region on the directive of their unnamed boss whom had assured them that security agencies have been briefed to give the vessel on unhindered access into the waterways.
TSSL’s Executive Director, Operations, Captain Enisuoh, confirmed the arrest to newsmen, noting that the vessel has been moved to NNPCL in Oporoza in Warri South West LGA of Delta State for further investigation.
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