By Merit Ibe
Tantita Security Services Nigeria Limited is not at loggerheads with the Nigeria Navy.
Warredi Enisuoh, executive director, Technical Operations, who made the remark in a live TV programme said Tantita only had a problem with those who were against fixing the country.
“Our relationship with the Navy has not broken down. If you listen to the Navy, they said they work with a lot of other private security service providers. But I guess it is a bit of a culture shock that maybe for the first time, they are working with someone like Tantita who has got such tenacity and capacity to do damage to those who want to do damage to Nigeria. We have Judas everywhere. We have Judas in the Navy. We have to be at loggerheads with a few elements that just don’t agree that these crimes have to stop.”
Tantita is owned by Government Oweizide Ekpemupolo predominantly referred to by his sobriquet Tompolo, former militant commander of the Movement for the Emancipation of the Niger Delta and the chief priest of the Egbesu deity, the Niger-Deltan god of war
Enisuoh refuted claims of the Navy that Tantita had a hand in the arrested 77-meter-long motor tanker used for crude oil theft. On the contrary, the security service provider has been monitoring the ship for a long time.
“We took interest in this ship in 2018 and what I will tell you here will shock you. This ship started stealing oil from Nigeria in 2018. We weren’t present at that time but we kept monitoring every situation. Mind you, my contract or Tantita’s contract never stated that that area is under our responsibility. Maybe those who are talking may need to avail themselves of my contract terms.
“Secondly, we got our informant from Ghana that told us that a ship has departed Ghana with the intention to come and steal crude oil from Nigeria. This was on November 10, this year. We knew about it and we knew this ship is well connected and we followed this ship till it switched off its electronic signature three weeks ago and we had to create an EPB, an umbrella over the Niger delta region and we kept monitoring.
“Let me tell you the history of this ship. First, Sierra Leonean flag, stealing from Nigeria and nobody could catch it. We were not here at the time. Second, it came closer to Nigeria, possibly scared of the previous administration’s stand against this oil theft. It kept its flag as Togolese but something very ironic, May this year, it changed its flag to Nigeria.
“It must be connected to someone who thinks he has won and we can steal now. So, who was being protected? When we caught this particular ship, we followed it for over a month. We got intelligence that yes, that it is in the area and we left in the morning to make sure we secure the ship.
“We got there but, on our way there, we got further intelligence that they have got four AK-47 with bands of ammunition on board. When we got that intel, we said to hang on around the area till we get back up.
“While waiting for that backup, we believe they radioed their shore supporters to come to their rescue and that was how the fracas started. It takes about 30 minutes to get to that location, secure yourself and connect the hose. As we speak, we know who connected the hose.”
He further called for more investigation to be carried out on this matter.
“I would use this opportunity to request that this whole thing should not be pushed underground. There is more to this ship than meets the eyes. There are lots of documents on board that ship that we need to see what’s inside,” he said.