Tompolo Security Outfit Apprehends 23 Suspects for Oil Theft in Delta State
On January 15, twenty-three suspects were paraded in connection to the MT. KALI, a vessel with a 350,000-litre capacity, was arrested by Tantita Security Services Limited and other security agencies off the coast of Gbaramatu Kingdom, Warri, Delta State. The vessel was found to be laden with 200,000 liters of stolen crude oil and was taken to Oporoza for further investigation.
President Bola Tinubu commended the security agencies for their efforts in combating oil theft, emphasizing that their collaborative actions were producing the desired results. The commendation was conveyed by the Chief of Defence Staff, Maj.-Gen. Christopher Musa, who was delegated by the president to inspect the impounded MT. KALI.
CDS Musa, accompanied by top officials of the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPCL) and military chiefs, pledged to take decisive action against oil thieves and their sponsors. He indicated that the arrested vessel would be destroyed in line with established practices to serve as a deterrent to others.
Mele Kyari, the CEO of NNPCL, expressed concern about the increasing level of crude oil theft despite efforts to boost production and government revenue. He highlighted the need to address this issue and emphasized the commitment to combatting criminal activities in the maritime environment.
The CDS urged the media to refrain from publishing reports that could create disaffection between the government and private security outfits working together to achieve better results in the fight against oil theft.
“This is a collaborative effort and it will continue to collaborate with the NNPCL, the others, private security agencies, the main federal government agencies are also working together.
“I don’t want a situation where we create the impression as if there’s enmity between this group and that group.
“We’re working for the same team, we’re all Nigerians; this is our country. Whatever is happening here is an act of criminality that must be stopped by all means. So, I want to make it very clear that all Nigerians must put their hands on deck to ensure that we stop these acts.
“The country is bleeding. We need all the funds we need so that this country can grow and develop and it is just stopping these criminals like this that will make it possible.
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“So, why we’re here? It’s to come and see to identify them. The Chief of Defense Intelligence is going to go straight into investigation as to who is involved, what was taken, who sent them, and this is because we want to catch the perpetrators.
“These are just the ground troops that are being used, the main actors are behind, and I want to use this opportunity to warn all those that don’t want to stop this, that enough is enough.
“The Armed Forces, the security agencies, the communities, private security agencies, wherever they are, they are contracted as long as they’re contracted by the federal government, we’re going to work together as a team.
“There’s not going to be any competition between us, and please, the media should stop making it look as if there’s a fight, there is no fight.
“Whatever arrest that has been done, is done collaboratively and we’re going to continue to do that. And so that is very important.
“We’re happy that these have been arrested. We’re going to take it off from here, and we’re going to do more, because, henceforth, we’re going to enhance our collaboration and our joint efforts in ensuring that we check these menace.
“Nigeria must grow, and individuals cannot hold us to ransom. There are very few individuals who are making a profit from this. And, they don’t want to stop because I would have expected that by now, from all the actions being taken to discourage people from doing it. But, you can see that people are still hell-bent on stealing our crude for their selfish gains, and that must stop.
He further stated: “So, I want to thank you for this opportunity that we’re here. And to make it very clear that we are all working together as a team.
“We will enhance this capacity, and this year, we will ensure that Nigeria’s oil production goes up, as much as possible, so that we can all benefit as Nigerians.
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“The crude inside the vessel will be treated as a standard operating procedure, including the ship.
“I know those ships that are very new will not want to commit crime. They want to go look for those that are almost dead. So that if they succeed, they have gained and if they lose, they don’t lose anything. This will follow the standard operating procedure.”
