Following an allegation of involvement in the alleged oil theft incident against Tantita Security Services Limited by the Nigerian Navy, the security outfit has described the accusation as laughable and an attempt by the Navy to cover-up the truth.
The security outfit which has received widespread commendation for its efforts in combating the menace of oil theft in the country debunked any involvement of its operatives in the incident while lampooning the Navy for underestimating its operatives.
Reacting to the development, the Executive Director – Operations and Technical, Tantita Security Services Nigeria Limited, Capt. Warredi Enisuoh in a statement described the Navy’s claim as “defamatory and libelous”.
The statement said: “The activities going on inside the Nigerian Navy’s Falcon Eye should be investigated as the ship was only a few kilometers off the coast of Ondo State, well within view of the Nigerian Navy’s Falcon Eye, but they never reacted.”
“We are indeed saddened and disappointed that the Nigerian Navy could descend so low as to make such bizarre accusations against our organization knowing the same to be false,” he added.
“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.”
It would be recalled that activities of Tantita and other security outfits have saved the country a whopping $43.2m from oil theft daily.
Recalled that on Thursday, December 7, 2023, the Nigerian Navy had disclosed that 17 people said to be engaged in the illegal siphoning of crude oil in Ondo State were nabbed aboard a 77-meter-long Motor Tanker (MT) VINNALARIS 1 Lagos.
Navy spokesperson, Commodore Adedotun Olukayode Ayo-Vaughan, disclosed in a statement, saying the suspects were nabbed at the Forward Operating Base (FOB) Igbokoda in the early hours of Thursday.
However, a day after, the Navy turned around to accuse Tantita Security Services Limited (TSSL) of complicity in the incident.
Credit: Primetime reporters except headline
