Security forces, including Tantita Security Services Limited, the Nigerian Army, and the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps, have apprehended a large vessel in the coastal waters of Ondo State, according to reliable sources supported by video evidence.
The vessel was initially observed off the coast of Ondo State, allegedly engaged in loading crude from a Well Head.
Upon investigation, it was discovered that a joint team comprising soldiers, NSDC personnel, and Tantita operatives intercepted the vessel, which also had naval personnel on board.
Despite a request from the NNPC for the vessel to be moved to its jetty at Oporoza for a collaborative inspection, the naval personnel resisted, asserting that the Navy had initiated the vessel’s arrest and was escorting it to one of its bases.
Reportedly, the naval operatives, adamant in their stance, engaged in a day-long exchange of gunfire, creating a tense standoff between Tantita, the Army, and the Navy. Tantita operatives, responsible for enforcing a pipeline protection contract with the NNPC and the Federal Government, expressed concern when the Navy insisted on avoiding a joint inspection of the vessel.
Video evidence obtained from sources depicts the naval operatives firing repeated shots to deter Tantita operatives and soldiers from accessing the vessel.
As of the time of this report, there is growing anxiety that the vessel might vanish without a trace under the cover of night.
