The Chief of Defence Staff, General Christopher Musa, has lauded the efforts of Tantita Security Services Limited (TSSL) and other security agencies for combating oil theft.
The CDS stated that the collaborative efforts are yielding results.
Gen. Musa gave the commendation while inspecting the impounded MT. Kali and the parade of suspects by Tantita and other security agencies at Oporoza, Delta State.
The CDS flanked by top officials of the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPCL) and top military brass promised to deal ruthlessly with oil thieves and their sponsors.
MT KALI was apprehended on Saturday by the Tantita in conjunction with the Nigerian Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC) in Bayelsa State.
The ship laden with 199 tonnes of stolen crude oil was later moved to Oporoza for anchorage while investigation continues.
Arrested alongside the vessel were 20 suspects excluding one that jumped into the sea.
The CDS thanked the TSSL for the feat and assured it that they would work together as a team.
He said that the vessel and its content would be treated in accordance with the standard operating procedure.
Gen. Musa: ““We are here as directed by the Commander-In-Chief based on the report of the ship that was arrested. It’s a major achievement. It shows that we’re committed in ensuring that we stop this criminality within the maritime environment.
“This is a collaborative effort among NNPC, security agencies and private security firm. I don’t want a situation where we create the impression as if there’s enmity between this group and that group.
“We’re working for the same team; we’re all Nigerians, this is our country. Whatever is happening here is an act of criminality that must be stopped by all means. So, I want to make it very clear that all Nigerians must put hands on deck to ensure that we stop these acts.
“The country is bleeding. We need all the funds so that this country can grow and develop and it is just by stopping these criminals that will make that very possible.
“So we’re here see and identify with you. The Chief of Defense Intelligence is going straight into investigation as to who is involved, what was taken and who sent them. This is because we want to catch the perpetrators.
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“These ones are just the ground troops that are being used; the main actors are behind. I want to use this opportunity to warn all those that don’t want to stop this, that enough is enough.
“Whatever arrest that has been done, it is done collaboratively, and we’re going to continue to do that. And so that is very important.
“We’re happy that these criminals have been arrested. We’re going to take it off from here, and we’re going to do more, because, henceforth, we’re going to enhance our collaboration in ensuring that we check this menace.
“Nigeria must grow, and individuals cannot hold us to ransom. There are very few individuals who are making profit from this. And they don’t want to stop because I would have expected that by now, from all the actions that have been taken to discourage people from doing it. But you can see that people are still hell-bent to steal our crude for their own selfish gains, and that must stop.”
Mallam Mele Kyari, Group Chief Executive Officer of the NNPCL, Mr Bala Wunti, Managing Director, National Petroleum Investment Management Services (NAPIMS) are among the CDS entourage.
Capt. Warriedi Enisuoh, Executive Director, Operations, Technical of Tantita Security Services Limited (TSSL) had told newsmen that the vessel was impounded recently with about 200,000 litres of stolen crude oil.
Enisuoh explained that the vessel had been on the watch list of TSSL, following intelligence report.
“Few weeks ago, we have been interested in MT KALi because it has been operating in Nigeria and the international waters illegally carrying crude oil and AGO.
“This time around it was unable to carryout its act successfully. Intelligence came to us, we processed and shared it on the need-to-know basis so that the operation will be successful.
“The ship left Lagos a couple of days ago and switched off its AIS. Then we knew it was coming to the Niger Delta.
“Further intelligence revealed that it was coming to Penitin Oil Field to load illegal crude oil in Bayelsa.
“On getting to the environment, we alerted our base at Sokebolou in Bayelsa where the operation was launched,” he said.
Enisuoh said that three persons were on top of the oil platform, adding that one was connecting the hose to discharge the content from below the seabed into the ship.
According to him, the platform was owned by the Shell Petroleum Development Company (SPDC), adding that there were about 14 platforms and two oil wells in the area.
Enisuoh said that on arrival, the Nigerian Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC) was able to help them in overpowering the suspects.
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