Tantita Security Services Nigeria Limited, owned by ex-militant leader, Government Ekpemupolo, alias Tompolo, has intercepted a speedboat ferrying illegally refined diesel and arrested three suspects, including a woman.
The speedboat and the suspects were nabbed on Wednesday around Orubiri flow station, along Okrika River, in the Okrika Local Government Area of Rivers State.
The private security firm said on Thursday that the operation was led byTantita Coordinator of Community Relations Department, Mr. Seimode Akposafagha.
Tantita representative in Rivers State, Chief Reuben Wilson, warned “those who are still in the illegal activities to have a rethink and stop, otherwise, they will face the wrath of the law.”
Wilson stressed that “oil blocks are Federal Government’s assets,” adding that “Any boat used for this illegal operations would continue to be set ablaze anytime they are caught.”
“The Federal Government is trying within its power to ensure that this illegality is stopped to enable Nigerians to benefit from these oil blocks in this country.
“And we (Tantita) will not allow the oil thieves to destroy our dear nation’s assets with their illegality,” he said.
The development comes about two days after the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation Limited met with the military and the police with a resolve to end crude theft and pipeline vandalism in the Niger Delta, which is robbing the country of revenues.
From 2.2 million barrels daily crude oil production years back, the country is struggling to get 1.3 million barrels daily, a situation that made President Bola Tinubu give the security agencies a marching order.