Kazeem Owoseni
The Federal Government of Nigeria in conjunction with Operatives of Tantita Security Limited and Nigerian National Petroleum Company on Tuesday, set ablaze, a vessel ladened with 150,000 litres of stolen crude oil in Delta State.
It was reported on Monday, that the vessel
was cut by the operatives of the Tantita Security Limited on July 7,2023, while it was conveying 150,000 litres of stolen crude oil from Delta en route Cameroon, with 11 Nigerians and 1 Ghanian onboard.
Reports revealed that the vessel, MT TURA II(IMO Number:6620462) with Registration Number, RC 813311 is owned by Holab Maritime Services Limited.
Meanwhile, in his chat with newsmen, Tantita Executive Director on Technical Operations, Capt. Warredi Enisuoh, said the government made a swift decision to destroy the vessel, noting that the action was to serve as a detterant to others.
“The whole idea of destroying the vessel is to send a strong message to all would-be investors that this is what they’re to face if they tow this type of business,” he said.
According to him, illegal bunkerers and their sponsors should be ready to lose their assets as the government and security forces will do all it takes to bring them to book.
However, reports revealed that officials of the Nigerian Army, Nigerian Navy, Nigerian Airforce, Nigeria Security & Civil Defence Corps, Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation, and also, officials of the Delta State Government were on ground during the burning of the exercise.
