Metro

[UPDATED] Tantita, Security Operatives Parade Vessel, Crew Members Arrested For Oil Theft

Published

2 years ago

February 6, 2024

Tantita security services Nigeria limited, TSSNL, in collaboration with security operatives on Tuesday paraded a vessel, Harbor Spirit and about fifteen persons arrested along Sangana Water ways in Bayelsa state on Sunday.

Addressing Journalists onboard the vessel at Oporoza waters, hometown of ex militant leader and Executive Chairman of Tantita , Chief Government Ekpemupolo aka Tompolo, the Executive Director Operations and Technical of Tantita, Captain Warredi Enisuoh said the vessel was impounded with 88,000 metric tones of illegal crude, adding that from the 15 persons paraded twelve were crew members arrested onboard the vessel while the others were community folks allegedly aiding the illicit operation.

Continuing, he said though the ship was not registered in the country but the crew members were all Nigerians. Captain. Enisuoh further hailed the synergy between Tantita and the military, assuring that the synergy would dislodge oil thieves from the region.

“We are working in synergy with the military. The Chief of Defence Staff was here and he spoke of synergy. The synergy has brought about the arrest of Harbour spirit .

“In collaboration with the Navy we monitored the vessel until it came close to apprehension. Two days ago( Sunday) the detective system found.the vessel loitering at a platform in Bayelsa state loading crude . 88,000 metric tones was found and what they took already was enough to show their motive and intention”.

He said those arrested would be handed over to the appropriate authority for further investigation.

Captain of the impounded vessel, ( name withheld) who fielded questions from newsmen said they were about disembarking from the vessel when men of Tantita and security operatives swooped on them, adding that three of his crew members jumped into the river.

“We were apprehended at the loading point at Sangana. We were not happy with the operation. We were about disembarking from the vessel before we were arrested. Three of our crew jumped into the river. I have not heard from them.”

The captain admitted that there was crude in the vessel at the time of the arrest.

CSP Sini John told newsmen that at the end of police investigation details of findings would be passed on to the Force Public relations officer, PRO in Abuja for the media.

Metro

Gateman Arrested For Allegedly Defiling Four-year-old Pupil In Oyo

Published

9 hours ago

September 5, 2025

Editor

A 26-year-old gateman identified as Josiah Ayomide has been arrested for allegedly defiling a four-year-old pupil in one of the schools in Ibadan, Oyo State.

The suspect was paraded alongside other suspects arrested for offences ranging from theft, banditry, rape, and other crimes at the Oyo State Police Command, Eleyele, Ibadan, on Thursday.

In his briefing, the Police Public Relations Officer, CSP Adewale Osifeso, said the suspect was nabbed after the victim complained of severe vaginal pains to her parents at home.

Osifeso added that after a thorough investigation and probe, the suspect confessed to the crime.

The police spokesman said the victim later told her mother that her school gateman had unlawfully raped her while she was in the school.

According to the report, “The victim was taken to the Police Medical Clinic, Eleyele-Ibadan, for medical examination and treatment, and the medical report revealed that the hymen was not intact, with tenderness around the vulva and vagina and bruises.”

Osifeso said the suspect would be prosecuted upon completion of the investigation.

Metro

Panic As Fire Guts Fuel Station In Ikorodu

Published

11 hours ago

September 5, 2025

Editor

Photo: File Copy

There was pandemonium on Friday when fire gutted A1 Petroleum Filling Station, an independent oil dealer located on Isawo Road, off Agric Bus Stop in Ikorodu, Lagos.

As of 1 p.m., the extent of property destroyed and possible casualties had not been confirmed. The cause of the fire is still under investigation.

Men of the Lagos State Fire and Rescue Service, supported by other emergency responders, were at the scene battling to contain the inferno, which reportedly began from a diesel-laden truck within the premises.

Metro

DSS Charges Top Ansaru Leaders Over Terrorism, Kuje Prison Break Roles

Published

11 hours ago

September 5, 2025

Editor

The Department of State Services (DSS) has brought terrorism charges against two senior commanders of Ansaru, an Al-Qaeda-linked terror group, over their alleged role in violent attacks across Nigeria.

The suspects are Mahmud Usman, also known as Abu Bara’a/Abbas/Mukhtar, who is described as the Emir of Ansaru, and his deputy Mahmud al-Nigeri, also called Malam Mamuda. They were recently captured during security operations.

According to the DSS, the charges against them include leading a terrorist organisation, funding its activities, recruiting members, and planning violent operations nationwide.

Their arraignment at the Federal High Court in Abuja is expected soon.

Nuhu Ribadu, the national security adviser (NSA), said the two men were behind the July 2022 Kuje prison attack, where more than 600 inmates, including Boko Haram suspects, escaped.

Ribadu explained: “Abu Bara was the coordinator of terrorist sleeper cells across Nigeria and the mastermind of several high-profile kidnappings and armed robberies used to finance terrorism.”

On Mamuda, Ribadu revealed that he trained in Libya between 2013 and 2015 under foreign jihadists from Egypt, Tunisia, and Algeria, specialising in handling weapons and making explosive devices.

The NSA also linked the suspects to the 2013 abduction of French engineer Francis Collomp in Katsina, the 2019 kidnapping of Musa Uba, Magajin Garin Daura, and the kidnapping of the Emir of Wawa.

Ribadu described their arrest as “a turning point”, noting that the duo maintained strong networks in Mali, Niger, and Burkina Faso.