President Bola Tinubu has commended Tantita Security Services Limited and other security agencies for combating oil theft, saying their collaborative efforts are yielding results.
The Chief of Defence Staff, Major General Christopher Musa, gave the commendation on behalf of the President while inspecting the MT. Kali vessel that was arrested by Tantita and other security agencies at Oporoza, Delta State.
The CDS flanked by top officials of Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited and top military brass, promised to deal ruthlessly with oil thieves and their sponsors.
Musa noted that the arrested vessel would be destroyed in line with standard practice to serve as a deterrent to others.
He urged the media to stop creating disaffection between the government and private security agencies working together to achieve better results.
“We are here based on the report of the arrest of this ship, and I think it’s a major achievement. It shows that we’re committed to ensuring that we stop this criminality within the maritime environment.
“This is a collaborative effort and it will continue to collaborate with the NNPC, the others, private security agencies, the main Federal Government agencies are also working together. I don’t want a situation where we create the impression as if there’s enmity between this group and that group.
“We’re working for the same team. We’re all Nigerians; this is our country. Whatever is happening here is an act of criminality that must be stopped by all means. So, I want to make it very clear that all Nigerians must put hands on deck to ensure that we stop these acts,” he said.
Musa added further that “the country is bleeding”, stating that “we need all the funds we need so that this country can grow and develop and it is just by stopping these criminals like this, that will make that very possible”.
He disclosed that the Chief of Defense Intelligence would investigate the suspects arrested to know “who is involved, what was taken, who sent them, and this is because we want to catch the perpetrators”.
He explained, “These are just the ground troops that are being used. The main actors are behind, and I want to use this opportunity to warn all those that don’t want to stop this, that enough is enough.
“The Armed Forces, the security agencies, the communities, private security agencies, wherever they are, they are contracted as long as they’re contracted by the Federal Government, we’re going to work together as a team.
“There’s not going to be any competition between us, and please, the media should stop making it look as if there’s a fight, there is no fight.”
In August 2023, Tantita Security Services arrested a vessel, MT PRAISEL escorted by a Navy gunboat in the creeks of Delta State.
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