Navy Apprehends Alleges Tompolo’s Tantita Vessel of Oil Theft

The 77-meter-long Motor Tanker Vinnalaris 1 Lagos was apprehended by the Nigerian Navy, which revealed its involvement in illicit operations.

Employees of Tantita Security Services, a private security firm founded by former Niger Delta warlord Government Ekpemupolo, also referred to as Tompolo, have come under fire from the navy, which accuses them of being involved in illegal operations.

Seven nautical miles off the coast of the Awoye riverine hamlet in Ilaje Local Government Area, Ondo State, lies the EBESAN oil field. The vessel, carrying seventeen crew members, was caught during the process of unlawfully syphoning crude oil from one of the well heads at the oil field.

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According to a statement made by Adedotun Ayo-Vaughan, the Nigerian Navy’s spokeswoman, the arrest was carried out in response to reliable information the base had received about the illicit actions of local crude oil thieves.

In order to enforce the detention of the ship and her crew, FOB Igbokoda personnel were quickly dispatched.

Ships & Ports said that the event, which involves a private security group that is purportedly connected to a former warlord who is implicated in the criminal operations, underscores the continued difficulties authorities face in suppressing illegal oil activity in the region.

In its attempts to stop these kinds of actions and uphold security in the country’s maritime domain, the Nigerian Navy never lets up.

The statement reads: “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.

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“Accordingly, on arrival at the scene, it was discovered that the vessel was actively involved in siphoning crude oil from both sides of the wellhead.

As a result, additional investigation and questioning revealed that there were 17 crew members of Nigerian nationality on board the ship.

500 metric tonnes of crude oil were put onto the ship at the time of arrest, out of its 15,000 metric tonnes of storage capacity.

“Furthermore, it is believed that Tantita Security Service is involved in these illegalities because 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.

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“Nonetheless, the Nigerian Navy remains resolute in the pursuit of her constitutional mandate for the protection of Nigeria’s maritime environment for national economic development and prosperity.”

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