How Tantita discovered 16 illegal tapped points in Trans-Escravos pipeline
…Chief of Defense Staff expresses shock, sends warning notice
...Anyone involved will be dealt with – Kyari
The pipeline surveillance contract recently awarded to Tantita Security Services Limited by the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPCL) to assist curb oil theft and pipeline vandalism in the country is not only gaining steam but yielding targeted results.
This assertion is predicated on startling findings made yesterday on Thursday, October 7, 2022, in Yokri, Ogulagha oil field, Delta State, by Tantita Security Services Limited, an organization where High Chief Government Ekpemupolo (A.K.A. Tompolo), the Ibe-Ebidouwei of Ijaw Nation and Global Ambassador of the Ijaw people, has a vested interest.
[PHOTOS] Mele Kyari, Chief of Defence Staff visit site of discovered illegal oil pipeline in Delta
Addressing top security operatives and oil industry leaders, including Chief of Defence Staff, General Lucky Irabor, Group Chief Executive Officer, NNPC Ltd, Dr. Mele Kolo Kyari; Bala Wunti, Group General Manager, NAPIMS, heads of other security arms and the media who were on a guided tour to the Trans-Escravos Pipeline Terminal and to the Afremo A Platform.
The Managing Director, Tantita, Chief Kestin Pondi, hinted that 16 illegal tapped lines deftly plugged into the Trans-Escravos pipeline at various locations in the riverside communities were discovered by Tantita Security Services Limited.
He noted that the tap lines used by the gangs were discovered during ongoing major operations by the firm recently. Noting that from the look of things, this has been on for a long time. He added that getting to this level is not easy as it took a lot of effort and intelligence.
“To get to this level is not easy. We were hinted on the two illegal attachments that were foiled. We are still escalating. We are combing this line up to Ogidigben to Madaho.
“This particular one inspected by the NNPC CEO team is located at Yokre Flow Station. Only God knows how many more points we are going to see as we go further. As at this moment, we have discovered 16 points so far. The identified 16 points were attached to the Trans Escravos pipeline at different locations.
“It is obvious that a lot of people are complicit in this illegal oil activities. Whether it is in the security sector, host communities, even in the oil industry, if you know that you have been involved and nobody is doing anything about it, this is the time to evacuate. If you do not stop, the laws that are protecting the oil industry will come very strongly on you.
“Those involved are not unlikely to fight back. But we are not too scared of our people. We are more scared of people with guns that are involved in these activities than people without guns. We are more scared of the GSAs that are accomplict in this, and the oil multinationals than we are scared of our people.
“Tompolo is 100 per cent committed to eradicating this menace of illegal oil theft and refining from the Niger Delta. One of the reasons being that it degrades our environment. It creates health hazards to our people. Another one is that with this kind of contract, we are going to have employment for our teeming youths. And it will greatly increase production in the oil industry.”.
Chief of Defense Staff expresses shock, Sends Warning Notice
Speaking on the discovery, the nation’s Chief of Defense Staff (CDS), General Lucky Irabor expressed shock at the sophistry of the operation, describing the operation as an “eye-opener”, and vowed to ensure a thorough and complete investigation into the operation.
“We are going to ensure an expensive investigation into the whole revelation to get to the roots with a view to reviewing the entire security architecture across the board, among other issues”.
Mele Kolo Kyari Speaks On The Development
In like manner, the Nigeria National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPCL) Group Chief Executive Officer (GCEO) – Engr. Mele Kolo Kyari described the illegal attachments on the Trans Escravos pipeline as “professionally done”, noting that the “illegal refiners connected this to an inactive pipeline which should not carry crude in a normal instance.
“The illegal attachments on the Trans Escravos pipeline is professionally done and the end result is that they connected this to an inactive pipeline which should not carry crude in a normal instance.
“And we have seen that this line flow all the way parallel to the two other active Trans Escravos pipelines. And this is a good revelation.
“That is why the Chief of Defence Staff has said very clearly that an extensive investigation will be conducted. Anyone involved in this matter, either from the host community, community contractors, government security agencies, workers of the oil companies including NNPC and Shell. Anyone that is involved in this will be dealt with by the law.
“We are presently getting massive support from the intervention of the government security agencies notably the Nigerian Navy, Nigerian Air Force, Nigerian Army, the NSCDC, etc as we have seen massive campaign in this regard as coordinated by the Chief of Defence Staff. The intervention is really paying off,” he concluded.
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