Tantita Security Services Limited has countered the Nigerian Navy over the crude oil vessel that was seized in the coastal waters of Ondo state.
The Nigerian Navy had accused Tantita Security of being involved in illegalities, but the security company is claiming the Navy is preventing its operatives and other security agencies from boarding the seized vessel for further investigations.
According to the naval spokesman, Commodore Adedotun Ayo-Vaughan, the arrest was based on intelligence on the activities of crude oil thieves at the location.
However, Tantita operatives, who are implementing a pipeline protection contract with the Nigerian National Petroleum Company (NNPC) Limited (NNPCL) and the Federal Government, were said to have insisted on taking the vessel for joint inspection.
But in a statement, the Executive Director (Operations and Technical) of Tantita Security Services Nigeria Limited, Captain Warredi Enisuoh described the Navy’s claim as “defamatory and libelous”.
The statement said: “The activities going on inside the Nigerian Navy’s FalconEye should be investigated as the ship was only a few kilometers off the coast of Ondo State, well within view of the Nigerian Navy’s FalconEye, but they never reacted.
“We are indeed saddened and disappointed that the Nigerian Navy could descend so low as to make such bizarre accusations against our organisation knowing the 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”.
The full statement: “Our attention has been drawn to a defamatory and libelous statement made by the Nigerian Navy against our organisation, Tantita Security Services Limited.
“In the statement made on Thursday the 7th of December, 2023 by the Director of Naval Information, Commodore Adedotun Ayo-Vaughan, he informed the general public that the Nigerian Navy had detected and arrested a 77-meter-long motor tanker for crude oil theft with her 17-crew members.
“He further added and we quote “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.”
“We are indeed saddened and disappointed that the Nigerian Navy could descend so low as to make such bizarre accusations against our organisation knowing the 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”.
