From Femi Folaranmi, Yenagoa
The management of Tantita Security Services Limited (TSL), owned by Chief Government Oweizide Ekpemupolo, has dismissed the allegation by the Nigerian Navy that the company was involved in illegal activities along the coastal areas of Ondo State as not only untrue, but bizarre, libellous and mischievous.
In a statement, last Thursday, on the arrest of a 77 metre long motor tanker for crude oil theft, with her 17 crew members, the navy had accused Tantita of involvement in the incident.
It claimed that TSL “is involved in these illegalities because the Awoye riverine area, which is close to the place of arrest, is covered by TSS.”
The navy’s statement followed an earlier alarm raised by Tantita about the arrest of the vessel, and a claim supported with video evidence that the navy was resisting access to the vessel.
It was further observed that the naval men rejected demands by the NNPC for a joint inspection of the vessel by the agencies involved, for no genuine reason. Following the development, the security outfit, owned by the former militant chieftain, raised concerns that the vessel may vanish into thin air before morning as naval operatives on board the vessel allegedly shot all through the night to prevent the army, the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence (NSCDC) operatives and men of TSL from accessing the vessel.
TSL, in a statement by its Executive Director, Operations and Technical, Capt. Warredi Enisuoh, said: “Our attention has been drawn to a defamatory and libellous statement made by the Nigerian Navy against our organisation, Tantita Security Services Limited.
“In the statement, on Thursday, December 7, 2023, the Director, Naval Information, Commodore Adedotun Ayo-Vaughan, informed the general public that the Nigerian Navy had detected and arrested a 77-metre long motor tanker for crude oil theft with her 17 crew members.
“He further added and we quote: ‘it is believed that Tantita Security Services is involved in these illegalities because the Awoye riverine area, which is close to the place of arrest, is covered by TSS’. Again, it was upon the arrest of the vessel by the Nigerian Navy that TSS began to raise false alarms, totally unfounded and, indeed, mischievous.
“We are, indeed, saddened and disappointed that the Nigerian Navy could descend so low as to make such bizarre accusations against our organisation, knowingly to be false. Perhaps, they are not aware that video evidence of what transpired between the Tantita operatives and the Nigerian Navy at the scene exists and has been transmitted to the highest authorities.
“We will, therefore, not join issues with the Nigerian Navy as we are well aware that Nigerians know who is who.”