Tantita Security Services Limited has issued a rebuttal against the Nigerian Navy’s accusations regarding the crude oil vessel seized in the coastal waters of Ondo state.
Contrary to the Navy’s claims of illegal activities, Tantita Security asserts that the Navy is obstructing its operatives and other security agencies from accessing the impounded vessel for additional investigations.
Naval spokesman Adedotun Ayo-Vaughan had previously stated that the arrest was made in response to intelligence indicating the involvement of crude oil thieves at the specified location. The conflicting perspectives between Tantita Security Services Limited and the Nigerian Navy highlight a dispute over the handling of the seized vessel and the ongoing investigations into the alleged illegal activities.
“Notably, as the anti-Crude Oil Theft Patrol Team of FOB Igbokoda approached MT VINNALARIS 1 Lagos, the two boats attached to the vessel fled on sighting the Naval personnel which confirmed the engagement of the vessel in illegality,” he said.
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.
“From our deductions, owing to the short time span and lack of room given to the Crude Oil thieves and the size of the hoses, the ship hadn’t loaded much before its planned operation was disrupted. However, we are unsure as to how much she has taken since we couldn’t board the ship.
“In the videos attached to this report, you could clearly see the Government Security forces attached to Tantita Security Operatives complaining about how they were fired upon by the Nigerian Navy. A situation that continuously daunts us as we are meant to fight the common enemy threatening Nigeria’s economic wellbeing,” Capt. Warredi Enisuoh said in a statement on behalf of Tantita.