Mkpoikana Udoma
Port Harcourt — Tantita Security Services Limited, the pipeline security firm owned by Niger Delta ex-agitator, Government Ekpemupolo, also known as Tompolo, has berated the Nigerian Navy over the recent seizure of a giant crude oil vessel offshore Awoye, Ondo State.
The Nigerian Navy had accused operatives of Tantita Security Services, TSS, of engaging in oil theft and illegal activities concerning the said vessel.
Director of Naval Information, Commodore Adedotun Ayo-Vaughan, had raised the alarm that operatives of the Nigerian Navy had detected and arrested a 77-metre-long motor tanker for crude oil theft with her 17 crew members.
Ayo-Vaughan in a statement said: “It is believed that Tantita Security Services is involved in these illegalities because 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 alarm, totally unfounded and indeed mischievous.”
But in a swift reaction, Tantita Security Services countered the Nigerian Navy, accusing the Navy of obstructing its operatives and other security agencies from accessing the seized vessel for further investigations.
Executive Director, Operations and Technical, Tantita Security Services, Capt. Warredi Enisuoh, who said the company will not join issues with the Nigerian Navy, called for an immediate probe into the incident.
Enisuoh disclosed that there was video evidence of the interaction between its operatives and the Nigerian Navy at the scene, which he said has been sent to higher authorities.
He said: “Our attention has been drawn to a defamatory and libellous statement made by the Nigerian Navy against our organisation, Tantita Security Services Limited.
“We are indeed saddened and disappointed that the Nigerian Navy could descend so low as to make such bizarre accusations against our organisation knowing same to be false.
“Perhaps they are not aware that video evidence of what transpired between the Tantita operatives and the Nigerian Navy at the scene exists and has been transmitted to the highest authorities.
“We will therefore not join issues with the Nigerian Navy as we are well aware that Nigerians know who is who.”
