Military Hands over 12  Suspected Oil Thieves to NSCDC for Prosecution

Sylvester Idowu in Warri

Troops of Joint Task Force (JTF) code-named ‘Operation Delta Safe’ have handed over 12 suspected oil thieves to the Delta State Command of the Nigeria Security and Civil Defense Corps (NSCDC) for prosecution.

According to a statement signed by the Assistant Director, Army Public Relations, 63 Brigade of the Nigeria Army, Major Yahaya Kabara, the suspects in Delta  were at the weekend handed over to NSCDC officers at the Command’s headquarters in Asaba.

The suspects were apprehended on July 7 aboard MV Tura 11, a vessel conveying stolen crude oil, by personnel of the Joint Task Force, operatives of Tantita Security Services and officials of the NSCDC off the coast of Escravos in Warri South West Local Government Area of Delta State.

The statement read: “You may recall that on July 7, 2023, a vessel, MV Tura 11, conveying suspected stolen crude oil was intercepted along the coast of Escravos by TPS of the Operation Delta Safe, operatives of Tantita Security contractors and personnel of NSCDC.

“Consequently, the 12 suspects arrested alongside the vessel were handed over to NSCDC, Delta State Command, Asaba, on July 15, 2023, for possible prosecution.”

The Joint Task Force, Operation Delta Safe, therefore warned that the unit would not spare any individual or group caught in the act of crude oil theft, assuring the public of adequate protection in the area.

Meanwhile, the Paramount Ruler of oil-rich Idjerhe Kingdom, His Majesty, Obukowho Monday Whiskey, has urged the federal government to expand Tantita Security surveillance contract to save the country’s economy.

The monarch in a statement he personally signed and issued yesterday, titled: ‘Expand Tompolo Surveillance contract to save Nigeria economy’, argued that the private security outfit has shown that is has the patriotic zeal to save the country’s economic wellbeing.

“With the recent arrest of the foreign bunkering vessel by the authorities of the Tantita Security Limited, owned by High Chief Government Owezide  Ekpemukpolo alias Tompolo, it is now clear to everyone that the company does not only have the capacity to deliver on its mandate but that it has the patriotic zeal to save the country’s economic wellbeing,” he stated.