Intensified efforts to clamp down on crude oil thieves have continued to yield results with the discovery of another illegal export pipeline by agents of Tantita Security Services Limited (TSSL), owned by ex-militant leader, Chief Government Ekpemupolo a.k.a Tompolo.
Following the development, officials of the Nigeria National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPCL), on an assessment visit to the site commended the security firm for the feat.
The General Manager, of the Gas Development Division, National Petroleum Investment Management Services (NAPIMS), Buduwara Zakariya, who led the delegation to inspect the uncovered illegal crude oil pipeline attached to Trans Forcados Export Trunkline, reassured Nigerians that NNPCL is taking action to combat the problem of crude oil theft.
Buduwara stated thus: “Tantita Security Services has been doing a great job. NNPC has been on its toes in trying to bring stability to the host communities”.
Further urging stakeholders to join force in the fight against oil theft and other saboteurs, the he said, “all these we are doing is to ensure and also assure Nigerians that we are doing something to curb the menace of this oil theft.
“We know the direct impact oil theft has on the national revenue, as well as the environmental hazards, especially on the people in the host communities.
“All you have seen is a demonstration of the collaborative efforts of all the stakeholders. No one can do it alone. We can all do it together to achieve our desired objectives”.
On his part, the Marine Intelligence Consultant for TSSL, Captain Warredi Enisuoh, said “the perpetrators of this particular organised crime had tapped into Shell’s 48-inch Export line. The crude has been cleaned up, ready to go. It’s quite expensive so they tapped into it.
“The place was initially filled with water but technologically, they were able to connect their own pipe under water. But we thwarted their line, we traced it to the point where it was tapped.
“We had to create two dams on either side of the pipe so that the water contained in the dam can be pumped out. For days, we pumped the water out before the illegality was exposed”.
