Operatives of Tantita Security Services Limited (TSSL) have apprehended another vessel alleged to be carrying stolen crude oil along the creeks of Bayelsa state.
The arrest was made possible with the support and collaboration of the Nigeria Police Force, Nigerian military and the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC).
The vessel identified as Mordovia vessel, MT Harbor Spirit, with IMO No. 8226272 was arrested with 12 crew members who are all Nigerians after had successfully loaded the stolen product.
Addressing journalists on Tuesday, Executive Director, Operations, Tantita Security, Captain Warriedi Enisuoh, disclosed the arrest of the vessel while parading the vessel and the arrested crew members.
Captain Enisuo said the vessel was presently anchored at Tantita facility at Oporoza, near Escravos, in Warri South West council area of Delta State.
Giving details of the arrest, Tantita’s Executive Director noted that the vessel was apprehended at about 1 am on Sunday, while anchoring at an oil platform around the Sangana Oilfield in Bayelsa creeks.
He stated that the vessel had already siphoned about 88,000 litres of crude oil before it was nabbed.
According to him, “What you see here today is a result of the strict instruction and order by the Chief of Defence Staff on how to deal with the scourge of crude oil theft which was heavily supported by the entire security forces.”
Fielding questions from newsmen, the captain of the arrested vessel, who gave his name as Shittu Joseph, affirmed that he was apprehended at the loading point at Sangana by the Tantita and the NSCDC operatives.
He said, “We are not happy with the botched operation as we are already making efforts to find our way out before the security operatives swooped on us.
“Three of my crew members even jumped into the water and we have yet to hear from them up till now.
“We are just a crew; we are Nigerians and it is only what we want to eat that we are looking for.”
The Head of Investigations of the Police Special Task Force on Petroleum and Illegal Bunkering, Chief Superintendent of Police, Omar Sini, told newsmen that the investigation had begun.
He added that progress and the eventual outcome of the investigation would be made public through the office of the Force Public Relations Officer of the Nigeria Police Force.
