WARRI/Nigeria: Four suspected oil thieves have been arrested in Delta State following the interception of a vessel, MT Thor, allegedly conveying illegally sourced petroleum products, in a renewed crackdown on crude oil theft in the Niger Delta.
The suspects were handed over to authorities at Koko Port by Tantita Security Services Limited (TSSNL), a private security firm engaged by the Federal Government for pipeline surveillance and protection of critical oil infrastructure.
Speaking during the handover, the Executive Director of Operations at Tantita, Warredi Enisouh, said the suspects were apprehended aboard MT Thor with an unspecified quantity of petroleum products suspected to have been obtained through illegal means. He added that the suspects would face prosecution for economic sabotage.
According to a situation report issued by the Special Prosecution Team (SPT) of the Inter-Agency Task Force on Petroleum Product Theft, the vessel was intercepted on December 15, 2025, along the Koko–Excravos axis of Delta State.
The report stated that Tantita operatives promptly alerted the Head of Investigation of the SPT after intercepting MT Thor, which was allegedly laden with crude oil siphoned through illicit operations.
Investigators further alleged that the vessel was being escorted by personnel of the Police Marine Unit, Delta State Command, who reportedly claimed they were acting on instructions from the Force Intelligence Department (FID), Abuja.
Preliminary investigations by law enforcement agencies revealed that MT Thor, now classified as an exhibit in an ongoing criminal investigation, is allegedly linked to a jetty operated by Ebenco Global Services Limited. Officials said documents and correspondence related to the jetty have been obtained and are currently under review.
Investigators disclosed that the owner of the jetty, identified as Mr. Ebenezer, was contacted and subsequently submitted additional documents, including court orders, which are also being scrutinised as part of the investigation.
The report further revealed that on December 16, a joint investigation team led by the Head of Investigation of the SPT conducted a Joint Inspection Visit to Koko. The team initially met at Tantita’s corporate headquarters in Warri for a briefing, which was attended by the jetty owner.
During the inspection, attempts to collect samples from MT Thor were initially unsuccessful as the vessel had not yet berthed, having been towed from an earlier location by security operatives.
While awaiting the vessel’s arrival, the team inspected other containers suspected to be carrying crude oil within the premises of Ebenco Global Links Limited, where samples were taken from a storage barge for analysis.
MT Thor eventually berthed at about 8:30 p.m. on December 16, prompting the joint team to adjourn sampling and other investigative procedures until the following day. As of December 17, investigators were reported to be en route to Koko to complete sample collection and conclude investigation formalities.
Receiving the suspects, the Head of the Special Prosecution Team of the Inter-Agency Task Force, Omar Sini, reaffirmed the Federal Government’s resolve to dismantle crude oil theft networks in the Niger Delta, assuring that all findings would be thoroughly examined and prosecuted in accordance with the law.
