A major milestone has been reached in the fight against crude oil theft, with the uncovering of a significant illegal oil loading point at Cawthorne Channel 1 Flowstation.
Situated in the Bonny axis of Rivers State, the flowstation is managed by Sahara Energy.
It was hitherto operated by Eroton Exploration and Production Company Limited.
Already, an oil barge named AGS 01 with an unnamed wooden boat being used for the operation may have been impounded.
Though no security agency of the government and private surveillance security companies have claimed responsibility for the feat, findings by newsmen, however, revealed that the feat was achieved by Tantita Security Services Nigeria Limited (TSSNL) operated by Chief Government Ekpemupolo (alias Tompolo).
Reliable sources in the military circles told newsmen that operatives of TSSNL punctured the illegal act.
One of our sources hinted that the operatives of TSSNL on normal patrol were attracted to the scene as illegal oil operators congregated within the vicinity of the Cawthorne Channels 1 Flowstation.
Top officials of TSSNL were not readily available to confirm the report at press time on Monday.
Pictures and video clips from the scenes showed the operatives of TSSNL on top of the seized barge, wooden boat and a tug boat named MV AMS 02.
A hose was sighted being used to transfer crude oil from the barge into the wooden boat.
The identities of the crew members of the illegal bunkering facilities were unknown at press time but officials of TSSNL were sighted ordering the oil thieves to vacate the scenes.
Some stakeholders in the oil industry have expressed dismay about the latest development, especially with the presence of the military personnel at Cawthorne Channel 1 Flowstation.
“The presence of a wooden boat stored with crude oil and its hatches opened speaks volumes. This is obviously crude oil theft syndicate backed and encouraged by the unscrupulous military establishment, officials of oil company and those of the state-owned Nigeria National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPCL).
“A lot of questions are begging for answers in the unfolding scenario. The germane one is when have we come to the worrisome stage in the oil industry when a wooden boat are being used to lift crude oil on behalf of NNPCL or is it that the operatives of TSSNL sighted on top of the seized oil equipment were also aiding and abetting the illegal act?
“Or is it that Tantita has recorded another feat? If it’s so, it means its efforts should be commended by the government and indeed all Nigerians,” added one of our sources, who craved that his name should not be mentioned.
The management of TSSNL could not be reached to confirm the involvement of its operatives in the discovery of the bunkering site.
The company’s Managing Director, Engineer Keston Pondi and Executive Director, Operations/Technical Services, Captain Warredi Enisuoh, could not be reached for their reaction to the report.
The duo ignored calls and messages sent to them to enable them to react to the report.
Also, when contacted, the company’s Spokesman, Mr. Paul Bebenimibo, refused to react to the report.
