The Nigerian National Petroleum Company (NNPC) Limited has revealed that the vessel, MT TURA II recently arrested with stolen 800, 000 litres of stolen crude oil by its private security contractor, Tantila Security Services, has been operating illegally in Nigeria in the last 12 years. This seems to confirm allegation of complicity of some security agencies in the worsening crude oil theft in Nigeria, through which the country has lost several billions of dollars in revenue.
According to statement issued on Twitter by the chief corporate communications officer, Garba Deen Muhammad, the NNPC disclosed that credible intelligence showed that the last reported location of the vessel was Tin Can Port, Apapa in July 2011 and had ever since operated illegally in the country in a stealth mode. Recall that Tantila Security Services Limited had intercepted the suspicious vessel with a cargo of 800,000 litres of crude oil on board on July 7, 2023.
The NNPC further disclosed that MT TURA II with IMO number: 6620462, is owned by a Nigerian Registered Company, Holab Maritime Services Limited with Registration Number RC813311 and was heading to Cameroon with the cargo on board when she was apprehended at an offshore location (Latitude: 5.8197194477543235°, Longitude: 4.789002723991871°), with the Captain, and crew members on board.
“Preliminary investigations revealed that the crude oil cargo onboard was illegally sourced from a well jacket offshore Ondo State, Nigeria. There was no valid documentation for the Vessel or the Crude Oil cargo onboard at the time of the arrest.
“Further investigation into the activities of the vessel at the NNPC Ltd. Command and Control Centre also revealed that the Vessel has been operating in stealth mode for the last twelve (12) years. The last reported location of the Vessel was Tin Can Port in July 2011.
“Details of this arrest and the outcomes of the investigations were escalated to the appropriate Government authorities, upon which it was concluded to destroy the Vessel to serve as a strong warning and deterrent to all those participating in such illegal activities to cease and desist.
“Destroying vessels involved in transporting stolen crude oil is of paramount importance as a strong deterrent. The illegal trade of stolen crude oil not only inflicts significant economic losses on Nigeria and legitimate stakeholders in the oil industry, but also perpetuates a cycle of corruption, environmental devastation, and social instability”, the statement read in part.
The state-owned oil company however assured Nigerians that it will sustain the momentum in the war against crude oil theft until it is finally eliminated completely.
