Men of Tantita Security Services Nigeria Limited, on Tuesday, morning apprehended a V6 200 horsepower engine speedboat carrying unquantified illegally-refined crude oil stored in sacks.
Tantita Security Co-ordinator for Ugbodede and Iffiekporo Communities, Samson Uwatse, said the boat was intercepted at the Ogunu Creek, in Warri South Local Government Area, Delta State.
Speaking to journalists on Tuesday, Uwatse said the suspected oil thieves aboard the vessel took to heels and abandoned the boat and the crude oil.
Uwatse said, “In the course of our working visit today, 21st of May, 2024, we came across this W23 200 horsepower fibre boat carrying illegally refined crude oil.
“We are taking the boat and the exhibits to our base. There is no more mercy for oil thieves. The boat shall be treated like others as standard practice entails.
“There are still others doing this illegal bunkering business in the river. We are going to catch them, make sure we deal with them, and there shall be no illegal bunkering business in the river again.”
Tantita is a private security outfit owned by ex-militant leader, Government Ekpemupolo, alias Tompolo.
Meanwhile, the Bayelsa State government, on Tuesday, warned pipeline and oil facilities vandals to stop forthwith or be ready to face the full weight of the law.
The Deputy Governor, Senator Lawrence Ewhrudjakpo, handed down the warnings at an enlarged security meeting with first-class traditional rulers, service commanders, local government chairmen, and the leadership of the Ijaw Youth Council central zone and other youth bodies at his office in Government House, Yenagoa.
He said the state government would no longer condone such economic crimes that destroy the environment and reduce the revenues accruing to the state.
Ewhrudjakpo pointed out that the state’s monthly revenue dropped each time there was a shortfall in its output in oil production because a large chunk of its income from the Federation Account actually comes from the 13 per cent derivation, which is intricately tied to oil production.
Ewhrudjakpo condemned illegal roadblocks and collection of levies on the highways, especially the East-West Road, Senator Ewhrudjakpo, saying such activities were giving the government a bad image and discouraging investors.
“There are so many roadblocks along the East-West expressway. There is also the issue of vandalism of oil pipelines. The most recent case took place in Gbarain in the Yenagoa LGA of the state.
