In a significant crackdown on economic sabotage, Tantita Security Services Limited (TSSNL) has apprehended four individuals suspected of crude oil theft and handed them over to authorities in Delta State. The suspects were captured aboard a vessel named MT Thor, which was intercepted while allegedly transporting illegally sourced petroleum products.
Vessel Intercepted, Suspects in Custody
The formal handover of the suspects and the impounded vessel took place at Koko Port in Delta State. Tantita, a security firm contracted by the Federal Government for pipeline surveillance, executed the operation. Captain Warredi Enisouh, Tantita's Executive Director of Operations, confirmed the arrest, stating the suspects were found on the vessel with an unspecified quantity of illicit petroleum products.
According to a situation report from CSP Omar Sini, Head of Investigation for the Special Prosecution Team of the Inter-Agency Task Force on Petroleum Product Theft, the vessel was intercepted on December 15, 2025, along the Koko–Escravos axis. The task force was alerted by Tantita after the vessel was found laden with what is believed to be stolen crude oil.
Investigation Uncovers Police Escort and Jetty Link
Investigations took a surprising turn when it was alleged that MT Thor was being escorted by personnel from the Police Marine Unit in Delta State. The police escorts reportedly claimed they were acting on orders from the Force Intelligence Department in Abuja. This detail adds a complex layer to the ongoing probe.
Preliminary findings further indicate that the vessel is linked to a jetty operated by Ebenco Global Services Limited. Investigators have secured relevant documents and correspondence from the jetty for review. The owner and promoter of the jetty has been contacted and has submitted additional documents, including court orders, which are now part of the analysis.
Joint Inspection and Evidence Gathering
On December 16, 2025, a joint team led by CSP Sini and Captain Enisouh conducted an inspection in Koko. After a briefing at Tantita's Warri headquarters, which was attended by the jetty owner, the team proceeded to Koko to obtain samples from MT Thor. However, the vessel had been towed from its initial location and had not yet arrived.
While waiting, the team inspected other containers suspected of holding crude oil within the premises of Ebenco Global Links Limited, taking samples from a storage barge. MT Thor eventually berthed at about 8:30 p.m. that evening, forcing the suspension of sampling until the next day.
The following day, December 17, investigators returned with officials from the Nigeria Upstream Petroleum Regulatory Commission (NUPRC). The officials collected product samples for laboratory analysis and other necessary investigative procedures.
Government's Commitment and Impact on Production
CSP Sini reaffirmed the Federal Government's unwavering commitment to dismantling networks involved in crude oil theft in the Niger Delta. He assured that the law would guide the next steps based on the investigation's outcome.
Highlighting the positive impact of sustained enforcement, Sini noted that when the Inter-Agency Task Force began operations in March 2025, Nigeria's crude oil production was around 1.4 million barrels per day. He credited ongoing efforts for helping to increase output to approximately 1.8 million barrels per day, underscoring the economic importance of such security operations.
