Capt. Warredi Enisuoh, Executive Director of Operations and Technical at Tantita, said that the company would not join issues with the navy.
By Jeffrey Agbo
The management of Tantita Security Services Limited (TSL), a firm owned by former militant Government Ekpemupolo aka Tompolo, has described as bizarre and mischievous an allegation by the Nigerian Navy that the company is involved in illegal activities along the coastal areas of Ondo State.
Tantita, the Nigerian Army and the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC) on Thursday intercepted a 77-metre-long motor tanker for alleged crude oil theft with 17 crew members.
However, in a statement, the navy said Tantita was “involved in these illegalities because 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 the company 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.
The operatives had raised the concern that the vessel may vanish into thin air before morning as naval operatives on board the vessel shot all through the night to prevent the army, NSCDC and the men of TSL from accessing the vessel.
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But the company in a statement on Friday described the navy’s claim as libelous wondering how the navy could reduce itself to such a low level.
The statement signed by Capt. Warredi Enisuoh, Executive Director of Operations and Technical at Tantita, said that it would not join issues with the navy as “we are well aware that Nigerians know who is who.”
The statement 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 made on Thursday the 7th of December, 2023 by the Director of Naval Information, Commodore Adedotun Ayo-Vaughan, he informed the general public that the Nigerian Navy had detected and arrested a 77 meter 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 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 alarm, totally unfounded and indeed mischievous.'”
Continuing, the company said, “We are indeed saddened and disappointed that the Nigerian Navy could descend so low as to make such bizarre accusations against our organisation knowing same 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.”