The war against crude oil theft in the Niger Delta received a major boost on Thursday as a private oil pipelines security provider, Tantita Security Services Limited (TSSL) impounded an ocean-going vessel laden with stolen crude oil in Bayelsa state.
The vessel, already loaded with an unspecified thousands of metric tonnes of crude oil, was named MT Kally.
It was impounded in a joint operation by the officials of TSSL, owned by a former militant commander in the Niger Delta, Chief Government Ekpemupolo, alias Tompolo and men of the Nigerian Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC).
The engineer and captain of the vessel, who identified themselves as Promise Eze and Adeboye David, respectively as well as some accomplices, who were members of some oil communities in Bayelsa state, were kept on board the vessel on Friday night as investigation into the incident continued.
The crew and their local accomplices were siphoning crude oil into the vessel from offshore Sokebolou field in Bayelsa state, before nemesis caught up with them.
Preliminary report of the incident revealed that the first manifold of the vessel was being loaded before the intervention of the security team.
Findings showed that the management of TSSL has reported the major feat to the National Security Officer (NSA), Mallam Nuhu Ribadu and the board and management of the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPCL).
Eze and Adeboye, who were interrogated by the executive director, Operations, TSSL, Captain Warriedi Enisuoh, said the vessel was mobilised from Lagos to load crude oil illegally from offshore locations in Bayelsa state.
According to them, they departed Lagos following assurances by their boss, whom they declined to name, that all security agencies along the shore have been compromised to give them unfettered passage to carry out the illicit business.
But they also refused to name the security agencies involved in the unholy alliance.
They gave their company’s name as San-San.
Enisuoh told LEADERSHIP Weekend last night that the vessel has been anchored at a location of NNPCL in Oporoza in Delta state.
Enisuoh said the suspects were kept on board the vessel as investigations continued on Friday.
