A private security outfit, Tantita Security Services Limited, has arrested a vessel registered in Moldova but operated by an all-Nigerian crew, with 88,000 litres of stolen crude oil.
According to Tantita’s Executive Director, Technical & Operations, Captain Warredi Enisuoh, the ship and 12 crew were arrested at Seigana oil fields in Bayelsa state and were still illegally loading crude oil from a platform when it was apprehended.
He said “You will recall that a couple of weeks ago, we were here together and the Chief of Defence Staff gave very strict instructions on dealing with the scourge of crude oil theft. One of his words are we are working with all the security forces, the Nigeria Navy, Army, Police, NSCDC, civil defense and the DSS to bring this problem to the barest minimum if completely eliminate the situation.
“The vessel you’re seeing was arrested as a result of the coordination between the security agencies and Tantita Security Services Limited within the confines of the law.
“This vessel Harbor Spirit, has been on the surveillance of security agencies for some time. It’s not a Nigerian registered ship, as a matter of fact, it’s a Moldovan ship, however the crew is Nigerian.
“The inspector general of police sent a special squad to this ship, the whole idea is to drill down to the sponsors of this ship, those who have been using this ship to perpetuate crime against the country.
“This ship was monitored specifically by the Nigeria Navy and TANTITA and it came close enough for apprehension on this particular day just about two days ago, precisely on the early hours of Sunday the detection systems found it loitering around Seigana oil fields off Bayelsa. We swung into action and discovered that it made fast to one of the oil platforms there and was loading crude oil illegally.
“Let it be on record that the crew were quite cooperative and they did not pose a threat and we were able to apprehend and arrest the ship and moved it this way to Oporoza in Gbaramatu kingdom, and the reason is for the crew also to be safe and for further investigation to take place in a much more ambient and civilized condition.”
Head of the police investigation special task force on Petroleum and illegal bunkering, CSP Sini John, disclosed that investigation has begun and that their findings will be made public through the office of the force public relations officer of the Nigeria Police force
Asked if there had been any major breakthrough in previous investigations, his response was in the affirmative, saying that would be disclosed soon on the directive of the inspector general of police through the police PRO.
The captain of the vessel Shitu Joseph, said he and his crew were given directive by a firm to and load the product that he was unaware of that the order not genuine.
He disclosed that three of his crew jumped into the river while the ship was being impounded and that they are still missing.
