A vessel allegedly carrying crude oil suspected to have been stolen has been intercepted in the koko area of delta state by the tanita security services.
The interception occurred on Wednesday, 2nd of august 2023, the 1117 tons of vessel carrying about 8100 barrels of crude is said to be escorted by some naval officers.
Tanita security outfit is the private security company owned by government Ekpemupolo, popularly called Tompolo, an ex-niger delta agitator who recently got a contract from the federal government to protect oil pipelines
Operatives of the Tanita security say the vessel, tagged Mt Praisel, was flying a Togolese flag , and was being escorted by a navy boat led by a senior naval commander. The tanita operatives say, they were met with resistance from the navy boat escorting the vessel and that the naval commander threatened to deal decisively with the Tantita operatives. The private operatives said they refused to back down.
The national security adviser and the chief of naval staff were eventually contacted, and they gave the Tantita operatives the authorisation to inspect the vessel. Upon entrance into the ship, the security company say they noticed that the vessel was authorised to carry products by the navy, but did not have any approvals from NMDPRA, the authority responsible for the regulation of the midstream and downstream petroleum operations in Nigeria for this said voyage.
However, the vessel is said to have naval clearance without necessary authorisation from the relevant agency of government.
The incident and discovery of Wednesday comes on the heels of the outcry by the federal government that illegal trade of stolen crude oil inflicts significant economic losses to the tune of 2.3 trillion Naira in 12 months. A loss that experts say could impact up to 25% of the nation’s crude oil production. Recent announcement of removal of petrol subsidy has caused nationwide demonstrations by workers unions.
Recently, another ex-Niger delta agitator Asari Dokubo told journalists at the state house after meeting with President Bola Tinubu that some corrupt military officers are involved in the stealing of Nigeria’s crude
