Tantita laments Navy’s role in seized stolen crude vessel in Ondo

By Sunday Onye, Senior Correspondent

A pipeline security company, Tantita Security Services Limited has faulted the Nigerian Navy for interfering with the crude oil vessel that was seized in the coastal waters of Ondo state by the company.

The company also debunked a report alleging some of its men’s involvement in illegality, stating that Tantita Security is not involved in any illegalities, rather the Navy is preventing Tantita operatives and other security agencies from boarding the seized vessel for further investigations.

According to the naval spokesman, Adedotun Ayo-Vaughan alleged that it was its men who intercepted the vessel, adding that the arrest was based on intelligence on the activities of crude oil thieves at the location.

But Tantita faulted this claim, stating that the Navy was given the vessel a cover when its men accosted the vessel.

Congress gathered that Tantita field men who are implementing a pipeline protection contract with the Nigerian National Petroleum Company (NNPC) Limited (NNPCL) and the Federal Government, were said to have insisted on taking the vessel for joint inspection but the plea was turned down by the Navy personnel who were accused of shooting indiscriminately.

In a statement, the Executive Director – Operations and Technical Tantita Security Services Nigeria Limited Capt. Warredi Enisuoh described the Navy’s claim as “defamatory and libellous.”

He said: “The activities going on inside the Nigerian Navy’s FalconEye should be investigated as the ship was only a few kilometres off the coast of Ondo State, well within view of the Nigerian Navy’s FalconEye, but they never reacted.

“We are indeed saddened and disappointed that the Nigerian Navy could descend so low as to make such bizarre accusations against our organisation knowing the same to be false,” he added.

“Perhaps they are not aware that video evidence of what transpired between the Tantita operatives and the Nigerian Navy at the scene exists and has been transmitted to the highest authorities.

“We will therefore not join issues with the Nigerian Navy as we are well aware that Nigerians know who is who.”

TANTITA PRESS STATEMENT

Our attention has been drawn to a defamatory and libellous statement made by the Nigerian Navy against our organisation, Tantita Security Services Limited.

In the statement made on Thursday the 7th of December, 2023 by the Director of Naval Information, Commodore Adedotun Ayo-Vaughan, he informed the general public that the Nigerian Navy had detected and arrested a 77-meter-long motor tanker for crude oil theft with her 17-crew members.

He further added and we quote “It is believed that Tantita Security Services is involved in these illegalities because Awoye riverine area which is close to the place of arrest is covered by TSS.

Again it was upon the arrest of the vessel by the Nigerian Navy that TSS began to raise false alarm, totally unfounded and indeed mischievous.”

We are indeed saddened and disappointed that the Nigerian Navy could descend so low as to make such bizarre accusations against our organisation knowing the same to be false.

Perhaps they are not aware that video evidence of what transpired between the Tantita operatives and the Nigerian Navy at the scene exists and has been transmitted to the highest authorities.

We will therefore not join issues with the Nigerian Navy as we are well aware that Nigerians know who is who.

Capt. Warredi Enisuoh
Executive Director – Operations and Technical.
Tantita Security Services Nigeria Limited.