A vessel ladened with 150,000 litres of stolen crude oil in Delta State has been set on fire by Operatives of Tantita Security Limited and Nigerian National Petroleum Company.
There are reports flying around that the vessel, MT TURA II(IMO Number:6620462) with Registration Number, RC 813311 is owned by Holab Maritime Services Limited.
It was learnt that the vessel was conveying crude oil from Nigeria to Cameron when it was arrested with 11 Nigerians and one Ghanaian onboard on Saturday, July 7.
Tantita Executive Director on Technical Operations, Capt. Warredi Enisuoh in a chat with newsmen said the government made a swift decision to destroy the vessel.
He said, “the whole idea of destroying the vessel is to send a strong message to all would-be investors that this is what they’re to face if they tow this type of business.”
Enisuoh said illegal bunkerers and their sponsors should be ready to lose their assets as the government and security forces will do all it takes to bring them to book.
Officials of the Nigerian Army, Nigerian Navy, Nigerian Airforce, Nigeria Security & Civil Defence Corps, Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation, NNPC as well as officials of the Delta State Government were on ground during the burning of the vessel.