Mkpoikana Udoma
Port Harcourt — Tantita Security Services Limited, TSSL, a pipeline surveillance firm owned by an ex-agitator, Government Ekpemupolo, says it has impounded a vessel, MT Kali, laden with unquantified barrels of illegally acquired crude oil, offshore Sokebolou oilfields in Bayelsa State.
The Sokebolou oilfields, sitting in the boundary between Bayelsa and Delta States, cut across Oil Mining Leases OML43 and OML45 operated by Shell Petroleum Development Company of Nigeria Limited.
The 3,000tons vessel, according to TSSL, was impounded since last Thursday in a joint operation by the operatives of TSSL and the Nigerian Security and Civil Defence Corps in Bayelsa State.
A statement issued by the Executive Director, Operations, TSSL, Captain Warriedi Enisuoh, indicated that the crew of the vessel and their accomplices were caught siphoning crude oil into the vessel from offshore Sokebolou field.
Enisuoh said the suspects, upon interrogations revealed that they came in from Lagos to illegally lift crude offshore Bayelsa, noting that the first manifold of the vessel was being loaded before the intervention of the security team.
According to TSSL, on board the vessel was the engineer and captain of the vessel, Promise Eze and Adeboye David respectively as well as some of the accomplices, who were members of some oil producing communities in Bayelsa.
He also said that the vessel has been anchored at a location of NNPC Ltd in Oporoza, Delta State, adding that the suspects were kept on board the vessel as investigations continue.
The statement reads, “TSSL has intimated the incident to the National Security Adviser (NSA), Mallam Nuhu Ribadu and the Nigeria National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPCL)
“Eze and Adeboye were interrogated by the Executive Director of Operations, TSSL, Captain Warriedi Enisuoh. The duo confessed that the vessel was mobilised from Lagos to load crude oil illegally from offshore locations in Bayelsa.
“According to them, they departed Lagos following assurances by their boss whom they declined to mention 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 said.
