Men of Tantita Security Services Nigeria Limited on Tuesday morning apprehended a speedboat with a V6 200 horsepower engine carrying an unquantified amount of illegally-refined crude oil stored in sacks.
Samson Uwatse, Tantita Security Coordinator for Ugbodede and Iffiekporo Communities, reported that the boat was intercepted at the Ogunu Creek in Warri South Local Government Area, Delta State.
Speaking to journalists, Uwatse said that the suspected oil thieves on the vessel fled upon sighting the security team, abandoning the boat and its illegal cargo.
“In the course of our working visit today, May 21, 2024, we came across this W23 200 horsepower fibre boat carrying illegally refined crude oil. We saw about four to five guys inside the boat. They took off on sighting us, but we were able to apprehend the boat and the exhibits,” Uwatse stated.
He added, “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.”
Meanwhile, the Bayelsa State government has issued a stern warning to pipeline and oil facilities vandals to cease their activities or face severe legal consequences.
Deputy Governor Senator Lawrence Ewhrudjakpo delivered the warning during 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.
