The Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited has said that its security partner, Tantita Security Services Limited, has intercepted an 800,000-litre capacity vessel loaded with stolen crude.
In a July 10 statement signed by Garba Deen Muhammad, the Chief Corporate Communications Officer at NNPC Limited, the vessel was headed for Cameroon.
The statement read
Following the receipt of credible intelligence, a Private Security Contractor engaged by NNPC Ltd, Tantita Security Services, intercepted a suspicious Vessel with a Cargo of Crude oil on board on July 7, 2023.
The Vessel, MT TURA II (IMO number: 6620462), owned by a Nigerian Registered Company, HOLAB MARITIME SERVICES LIMITED with Registration Number RC813311, was heading to Cameroun with the Cargo on board when it was apprehended at an offshore location (Latitude: 5.8197194477543235°, Longitude: 4.789002723991871°), with the Captain and Crew members on board.
Preliminary investigations revealed that the crude oil cargo onboard was illegally sourced from a well jacket offshore Ondo State, Nigeria. There was no valid documentation for the Vessel or the Crude Oil Cargo onboard at the time of the arrest.
Further investigation into the activities of the vessel at the NNPC Ltd. Command and Control Centre also revealed that the Vessel has been operating in stealth mode for the last twelve (12) years. The last reported location of the Vessel was Tin Can Port in July 2011.
Details of this arrest and the outcomes of the investigations were escalated to the appropriate Government authorities, upon which it was concluded to destroy the Vessel to serve as a strong warning and deterrent to all those participating in such illegal activities to cease and desist.
Destroying vessels involved in transporting stolen crude oil is of paramount importance as a strong deterrent. The illegal trade of stolen crude oil not only inflicts significant economic losses on Nigeria and legitimate stakeholders in the oil industry, but also perpetuates a cycle of corruption, environmental devastation, and social instability.
NNPC Ltd. assures Nigerians that we will sustain the momentum in the war against crude oil theft until it is brought to a halt.
What you should know
NNPC Limited engaged Tantita Security Services Limited as well as other third-party security firms in 2022, to help in the fight against crude oil theft in the country.
It is important to note that Tantita Security Services is owned by former Niger Delta militant, Tompolo.
PRESS STATEMENT
PRIVATE SECURITY CONTRACTORS INTERCEPT 800,000 LITRE CAPACITY VESSEL WITH STOLEN CRUDE OIL
Following the receipt of credible intelligence, a Private Security Contractor engaged by NNPC Ltd., Messrs. Tantita Security Services, intercepted a suspicious Vessel with… pic.twitter.com/eWGD7XY0au
— NNPC Limited (@nnpclimited) July 10, 2023
There is need for proper investigation to uncover those behind the acts and bring them to book. I don’t think destroying the vessel is also the solution rather, it should be converted to FG used.