By Jimitota Onoyume and Akpokonah Omafuare
Tantita security services Nigeria limited, TSSNL, in collaboration with security operatives on Tuesday paraded a vessel, Harbor Spirit and about fifteen persons arrested along Sangana Water ways in Bayelsa state on Sunday.
Addressing Journalists onboard the vessel at Oporoza waters, hometown of ex militant leader and Executive Chairman of Tantita , Chief Government Ekpemupolo aka Tompolo, the Executive Director Operations and Technical of Tantita, Captain Warredi Enisuoh said the vessel was impounded with 88,000 metric tones of illegal crude, adding that from the 15 persons paraded twelve were crew members arrested onboard the vessel while the others were community folks allegedly aiding the illicit operation.
Continuing, he said though the ship was not registered in the country but the crew members were all Nigerians. Captain. Enisuoh further hailed the synergy between Tantita and the military , assuring that the synergy would dislodge oil thieves from the region.
” We are working in synergy with the military. The Chief of Defence Staff was here and he spoke of synergy. The synergy has brought about the arrest of Harbour spirit .
“In collaboration with the Navy we monitored the vessel until it came close to apprehension. Two days ago( Sunday) the detective system found.the vessel loitering at a platform in Bayelsa state loading crude . 88,000 metric tones was found and what they took already was enough to show their motive and intention”. He said those arrested would be handed over to the appropriate authority for further investigation.
Captain of the impounded vessel, ( name withheld) who fielded questions from newsmen said they were about disembarking from the vessel when men of Tantita and security operatives swooped on them, adding that three of his crew members jumped into the river.
” We were apprehended at the loading point at Sangana. We were not happy with the operation. We were about disembarking from the vessel before we were arrested. Three of our crew jumped into the river. I have not heard from them.” The captain admitted that there was crude in the vessel at the time of the arrest.
CSP Sini John told newsmen that at the end of police investigation details of findings would be passed on to the Force Public relations officer, PRO in Abuja for the media.
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