Oil theft: N’Delta stakeholders’ fault security firm’s claims

Nathan Tamarapreye, Yenagoa

Stakeholders from the Niger Delta region have faulted the claims by the private oil pipeline security firm, Tantita Security Services Limited (TSSL) that it impounded an ocean-going vessel laden with stolen crude oil in Bayelsa.

According to the regional group under the auspices of the Movement for Sustainable Development of the Niger Delta, (MSDND), the claim by TSSL is a premature publicity stunt while the operation was underway.

The group said the claim is a ploy and an open attempt to compel the Federal Government to hand over the Bayelsa corridor to the company to manage the multi-million-dollar oil and gas pipeline surveillance contract.

Chief Ayebatekena Olodi, National Coordinator of the MSDND, said, in a statement on Saturday, noted making claims while the operations were underway was counterproductive.

“The management of Tantita Security Services Limited (TSSL) has become desperate following the recent advocacy for inclusiveness by the Bayelsa government under the led by Gov. Douye Diri.

“Diri is leading the push on the need to review and decentralise the crude oil and gas assets surveillance contracts awarded by the federal government across states in the Niger Delta.

“The claim is bogus and subject to verification by appropriate bodies within the security forces whose duty it is to brief the media before going to the public. There is no place known as “offshore Sokebolou field” in Bayelsa State.

“Every oil station, field, block or oil well has its name mapped out and a simple Google search will reveal that there is no such place as “offshore Sokebolou field” the group stated.

MSDND maintained that the purported seizure and towing of the suspected stolen crude-laden vessel to Gbaramatu as claimed by the private security company without any input from the statutory security agencies is to manipulate public opinion.

Olodi, stated that instead of TSSL to follow the legally required protocol, the company resorted to making unfounded claims and taking over the responsibilities of the anti-corruption agencies.

Olodi noted that the purported vessel seizure and the hurried announcement showed signs of desperation by the firm owned by a former militant leader, Chief Government Ekpemupolo, alias Tompolo.

He said the aim is to hoodwink the Federal Government, the National Security Adviser (NSA), Mallam Nuhu Ribadu and the board and Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPCL) to retain the contract as sole security contractor of the crude oil pipeline in the region.

“The MSDND however called out the management of Tantita Security Services Limited (TSSL) to clear the air on the allegations of wrongdoing and theft levelled against some of its operatives by the Nigerian Navy.

“Instead of resorting to unconfirmed and unverified stunts, the security company should answer questions raised by the Nigerian Navy on the numerous arrests of Tantita operatives involved in crude oil theft which has dented its credibility and mode of operations in the region.” the group stated.

It was learned that TSSL had in a statement by Captain Warriedi Enisuoh, its Executive Director of operations, claimed that it impounded an ocean-going vessel laden with stolen crude oil in Bayelsa.

“TSSL has impounded MT Kally, an ocean-going vessel laden with suspected stolen crude oil in Bayelsa barely 24 hours after the Nigerian Navy launched “Operation Delta Sanity” in Warri.

“The vessel, laden with yet-to-be ascertained volume of crude estimated to be in the region of thousands of metric tonnes of crude was impounded on Thursday in a joint operation by the officials of TSSL and the Nigerian Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC),” Tantita stated.

Sources at the Bayelsa Command of the NSCDC confirmed that personnel from the command were deployed for the ongoing four-day surveillance operation.

“The operation is ongoing and is expected to be on for four days, a houseboat is deployed for the operation and so the team spends the nights during the entire operation,” the source who spoke anonymously said.

The Sokebolou oilfields located between Bayelsa and Delta boundaries cut across Oil Mining Lease (OMLs) 43 and 45 are operated by Shell Petroleum Development Company (SPDC).