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    Friday, November 22, 2024
    Security

    Nigeria Police, Tompolo’s Firm, Tantita Record Major Stride Against Crude Oil Theft In Niger Delta Region

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    Tantita Security

    The Nigeria Police Force (NPF) and management of a private security outfit, Tantita Security Services Nigeria Limited (TSSNL) on Monday, recorded a major stride in the war against crude oil theft in the Niger Delta region.

    A Federal High Court, Abuja, in a landmark judgement,ordered the forfeiture of an illegal crude oil vessel, MT Kali and its content to the Federal Government.

    The police in the Charge NO. FHC/ABJ/CR/18/2024 B/W: INSPECTOR GENERAL OF POLICE V. MT KALI & 22 ORS, had arraigned the vessel and its 22 crew members before the Federal High Court, presided over by Justice J.O. Abdulmalik.

    Justice Abdulmalik granted the motion for the interim forfeiture of MT Kali & her content to the Federal Government.

    However, the arraignment of the suspects was stalled as they were not produced in the court by the office of the Chief of Defence Staff.

    All efforts by the prosecuting counsel to convince the court to issue a production warrant to be served on the military authorities for the production of the defendants on 18th March, 2024 being the next adjournment date or at least the issue of defendants’ summons to be served on the defendants through the military authorities proved abortive.

    The court, however, sternly warned that the charge may not survive beyond the next adjournment date should the prosecution not secure the attendance of the defendants for their arraignment and plea.

    The illegal oil bunkering ship was arrested by the operatives of Tantita Security Services Nigeria Limited in conjuction with the special security task force set up by the Chief of Naval Staff, Vice-Admiral Emmanuel Ogalla, on January 11th, 2024.

    The ship was arrested while siphoning crude oil from Pennington Oil field of the Anglo-Dutch energy giant, Shell Petroleum Development Company (SPDC) in Bayelsa State.

    Twenty crew members, including community boys’ accomplices, were arrested in the operation.

    This is the first time in recent time when oil thieves and their barons are being prosecuted and brought to book.

    The case is being prosecuted to logical conclusion in the act of dexterity and patriotic zeal by the operatives of Tantita led by its Executive Director, Operations and Technical Services, Captain Warriedi Enisuoh and a team raised by the Inspector General of Police, Mr. Kayode Egbetokun.

    Egbetokun had directed the Police Special Task Force on Petroleum and Illegal Bunkering (IGP-STFPIB) under the command of Mr. Lot Lantoh Garba, an Assistant Commissioner of Police, to launch a discreet investigation into the arrest of the bunkering ship.

    Investigations into the arrest of MT Kali, were being intensified as operatives of Tantita arrested another illegal bunkering ship MT HARBOR SPIRIT, weeks after, on February 4th.

    The Moldovian vessel was caught while stealing crude oil from Sengana oilfields in the coastal axis of Bayelsa State.

    The investigation and prosection of the two bunkering ships and their crew members were being diligently coordinated by Enisuoh and Head, Investigation, IGP-STPIB, Mr. Omar John Sini, a Chief Superintendent of Police (CSP).

    It was gathered that MT Harbor Spirit and members of her crew are to be arraigned in court on Friday, March 1st, 2024.

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    Delta Land Dispute; Group Dares Okpamam Indigenes To Appear At Force CID Area 10, Abuja. A group, South-South Professional & Transparency Initiatives (SSPTI), has challenged indigenes of Okpanam in Oshimili North Local Government area to visit Nigeria Police Force CID, Area 10 Abuja, to submit relevant documents relating to its ownership claim of the disputed land with Issele-Azagba people in Aniocha North Council area of Delta state. The group who expressed concern that the Okpanam Indigenes who had been the aggressors since the land dispute started about 3years ago have not deem it fit to visit the Force CID Area 10 Abuja to tender necessary documents to prove its ownership claim since the matter was transferred to Abuja, described their failure to do so as irresponsible and an act of cowardice. It would be recalled that following an alleged bias of some senior police officers at the Delta state Police Command, Asaba, in handling the matter, some displeased stakeholders in the case had to petition the Force Headquarters and the matter was subsequently transferred to the Inspector General of Police, (IGP) Olukayode Egbetokun’s office. It was gathered that based on the violence and killings recorded over the disputed land, including the two policemen murdered 3years ago and three youths killed early this year, IGP Egbetokun, personally directed the Deputy Inspector General of Police (DIG CID), Sylvester Abiodun Alabi, to investigate the matter and bring to justice those responsible for the killings of his men and the youths. Reacting to the deliberate efforts by the Okpanam indigenes to frustrate the process of investigations by falling to appear before DIG Alabi at the Force CID Area 10 Abuja, SSPTI in a statement signed by its Chairman, Dr. Ugochukwu Alozie, yesterday, noted that its obvious that the Okpanam indigenes do not have any document to prove their ownership case on the disputed land. According to the statement; “As a follow up to our earlier statement where we made it loud and clear that the Okpanam indigenes who had been the aggressor to the Issele-Azagba people of Aniocha North, over the land in question, do not have any document to prove their ownership, we have also discovered efforts by the same people to frustrate the ongoing investigations by not showing up at the Force CID, Area 10 Abuja. “We have carried out our independent investigations at the Police Headquarters, and find out that none of the key actors in Okpanam community laying claim to the disputed land have turned up at the place to present documents to back their claim so as to enable the investigating team led by DIG Alabi to carry out the mandate handed over to it by IGP Egbetokun”. “While we find it difficult to understand why none Okpanam indigenes had appeared before the investigating panel in Abuja, we are also concerned how a kingdom that is laying claim to a disputed land cannot present documents to prove its ownership case beyond all reasonable doubts”. “We are therefore using this medium to call on the Okpanam community indigenes to be bold enough and come before the investigating panel and tender the documents relating to their ownership claim of the disputed land area so as to enable the team conclude of the assignment handed to it by the IGP Egbetokun”. “In a situation where they continue to evade appearing before the investigating panel, we want to urge the police to declare wanted the major actors both within and outside their community, as well as some of the senior police officers who had aided them to unleash series of terror that had claimed lives and bring them to justice”, it stated. End.

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