Operatives of the Tantita Security Services Limited, the Nigerian Army, and the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corp (NSCDC) have arrested a massive vessel in the coastal waters of Ondo state, TheCable understands.
Sources told TheCable the suspected vessel was spotted loading oil from a well head off the coast of Ondo state.
According to a source, a joint team of soldiers, men of the NSCDC and operatives of Tantita, a private security firm owned by Government Ekpemupolo, known as Tompolo, accosted the vessel which had naval personnel on board.
The naval personnel reportedly declined a request by the Nigerian National Petroleum Company (NNPC) Limited that the vessel be moved to its jetty at Oporoza for a joint inspection.
According to a source, naval operatives on the vessel refused the request, claiming the navy had arrested the vessel and was transporting it to one of its bases.
Naval operatives, the source said, have been shooting all day, resulting in yet another standoff between Tantita and security operatives.
According to the source, Tantita operatives who are implementing a pipeline protection contract with the NNPC and the federal government were concerned when the navy operatives persisted in not taking the vessel for joint inspection.
The naval operatives were said to have fired shots to ward off the security operatives from accessing the vessel.
