The 800,000-litre vessel intercepted on the coastline of Ondo State was Cameroun-bound, according to NNPC Limited (NNPCL).
Tantita Security Services Nigeria Limited, owned by former militant leader Government Ekpemepulo (well known as Tompolo) intercepted the massive vessel carrying barrels of stolen crude oil in Escravos area of Delta State. The effort was said to have been in collaboration with security operatives.
The vessel, allegedly owned by a Nigerian registered company, was apprehended at an offshore location with the captain and crew members onboard and had been evading arrest.
In a statement on Monday, NNPCL’s spokesman, Malam Garba Deen Muhammad gave details of the arrest, and said that the vessel has been in stealth mode for 12 years, making detection difficult.
Muhammad said: “Following the receipt of credible intelligence, Tantita Security Services, a private security contractor engaged by NNPC Ltd, intercepted a suspicious vessel with a cargo of crude oil on board on 7th July 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”.
He said preliminary investigations revealed that the crude oil cargo onboard was illegally sourced from a well jacket offshore in Ondo.
He further said: “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 NNPCL command and control centre also revealed that the vessel has been operating in stealth mode for the last 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”.
Muhammad assured that NNPCL would sustain the momentum in the war against crude oil theft until it is brought to a halt.
On Sunday, the Executive Director of Operations and Technical at Tantita Security, Captain Warred Enisuoh, and the Commander of the Joint Task Force, Operation Delta Safe, Rear Admiral Olusegun Ferreira said the oil cargo was illegally sourced from a well-jacket offshore in Ondo State with no valid documentation at the time of the arrest.
The discovery was the latest in the series of disturbing findings by Tompolo’s firm contracted by NNPC Limited.
