Personnel of the 181 Battalion of the Nigerian Army, Oleh, in Isoko South Local Government Area of Delta State, in a joint operation with operatives of Tantita Security Services Nigeria Limited (TSSNL), have arrested a vacuum truck suspected to be laden with stolen crude oil at Wellhead 3 in Olomoro Community.
The driver of the truck, identified as Matthew Ojomikre, was also arrested during the operation. According to reports, the suspect was caught on Monday after illegally siphoning crude oil from the wellhead, which is under OML 30 and managed by Heritage Energy Operational Services Limited.
Ojomikre is currently in custody at the Nigerian Army 181 Barracks, where he is being detained for further investigation.
It was gathered that the suspect went to the well-head without the permission, approval and license from the Nigerian Upstream Petroleum Regulatory Commission (NUPRC), to illegally load crude oil. It was at the point of departure that soldiers intercepted him and notified TANTITA Security Services, leading to his arrest.
When confronted, Ojomikre reportedly confessed that his company was contracted by Heritage Energy Operational Services Limited to evacuate sludge from Wellhead 3. However, he could not present any formal approval or documentation to substantiate the claim.
It was further gathered that Heritage Energy typically sends crude and condensate trucking permits to Nigerian Army officers and TANTITA Security Services for proper monitoring during transportation from loading points to discharge locations.
TANTITA Security Services, in partnership with Heritage’s team and the Nigerian Army, had collected samples from the vacuum truck for laboratory testing and analysis.
Security sources disclosed that Ojomikre’s confession indicated he collected crude oil illegally from Wellhead 3 under the guise of sludge evacuation.
There are also allegations that the vacuum truck’s owners, known for unauthorized crude evacuation in the Isoko region, are attempting to influence Ojomikre’s release and prevent the vehicle from being seized or destroyed.
Meanwhile, the Security Manager of Heritage Energy Operational Services Limited, Lt. Col. Goldman Azagba (Rtd), stated that he was unaware of the vacuum truck driver’s movements and his illegal activities at the wellhead.
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