Four Tompolo’s Staff Arrested For Oil Smuggling

• Sodiq Lawal

The Nigerian Navy has arrested four suspected oil thieves identified as employees of Tantita Security Services Nigeria Limited over alleged an attempt to smuggle 11,000 litres of suspected stolen crude oil into Lagos.

OSUN DEFENDER reports that Tantita is a security outfit owned by Government Oweizide Ekpemupolo, also known as Tompolo was contracted by the Nigerian National Petroleum Company (NNPC) Limited to guard Nigeria oil pipelines in the Niger Delta.

It was gathered that the suspects were identified as Asonja Goddey, 28, Obajimi Oluwaseyifunmi, 38, Awoowo Aribo, 35, and Oluwadaisi Balogun, 40, and were arrested on August 29, 2023 near Itolu community, Ibeju Lekki on the waterways.

In a report made available to OSUN DEFENDER on Friday, it was learnt that local youths reported gunshots in the vicinity of the community, which prompted the naval patrol teams to immediately launch a response operation.

READ ALSO: Court Restrains Osun Govt On OSPOLY Rector Matter

According to the report, “Upon arrival at the scene, the naval team met 4 individuals dressed in black polo shirts with TANTITA inscribed on the back, trying to recover a dismantled outboard engine from a local.

“The team recovered the engine and apprehended the 4 Tantita Employees. It was after this arrest that the Patrol Team realized that the 4 individuals are part of a movement of a large wooden boat with 2 fiber boats.

“The 4 arrested individuals beconed on the 2 fiber boats to approach them but when they noticed NN patrol teams, the boats altered courses fled away and abandoned the large wooden boat laden with 11 x 1000L Geepee tanks with product suspected to be stolen crude oil.”

 

“They were “trying to forcibly employ” the owner of the boat, Ishola Ojubuyi, 42, who has been taken into custody.

“The Nigerian Navy has initiated an investigation to unravel the circumstances surrounding the incident particularly the possession of firearms used in the community, economic sabotage, how the product came from Ondo State to Lagos State as well as attempting to steal a boat engine from the locals.”

“One Mr Owoyele Omotuyi who was identified as a Tantita staff, came to secure release of the 4 apprehended, claiming they are Tantita employees. All suspects along with the confiscated exhibits, will be handed over to appropriate agencies for further necessary action and prosecution.

“The Nigerian Navy under the watch of Vice Admiral EI Ogalla, Chief of the Naval Staff, remains resolute towards ensuring the maritime environment is conducive for legitimate businesses necessary for economic prosperity of the nation,”