Nigerians on Twitter have condemned the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPCL) for destroying a vessel intercepted with 800,000 litres of stolen crude.
According to social media users, the hasty move to destroy the vessel is a plan to cover up.
They called on the federal government to immediately intervene to catch those behind this illegality.
Recall that a vessel with a Cargo of Crude oil was intercepted by a Private Security Contractor engaged by NNPC Ltd., Messrs. Tantita Security Services with stolen crude on July 7, 2023.
A statement released by NNPC spokesman, Garba Deen Muhammad, says the Vessel, MT TURA II (IMO number: 6620462), owned by a Nigerian Registered Company, HOLAB MARITIME SERVICES LIMITED with Registration Number RC813311, was heading to Cameroun with the Cargo on board when it was apprehended at an offshore location (Latitude: 5.8197194477543235°, Longitude: 4.789002723991871°), with the Captain and Crew members on board.
The statement also emphasized that destroying vessels involved in transporting stolen crude oil is of paramount importance as it serve as a strong warning and deterrent to all those participating in such illegal activities to cease and desist.
See reactions below:
@oeoko: Consider selling the vessel, instead of destroying, to try to recover losses they might have caused us? As well, how do you destroy vessels without risking that environment and the animal and human inhabitants
@RealOlaudah: They intend to destroy evidence with the destruction of the vessel. It’s probably an in-house deal.
@akingbadegroup: This is an indictment on the @NigerianNavy. A whole Navy battalion can’t intercept a vessel with stolen crude oil, but a private contractor can do that. Please scrap the Navy and contract their jobs to private contractor since they’re more effective. #ScrapNigerianNavvy
@j_samdavid: So instead of going after the criminals are very easy to find (because it’s one of you) you people want to destroy evidence? And they said file subsidy was the problem.
@olatundekazeem: who is the vessel owner , who are the vandals , why can’t you arrest them ????
@shyna4me: The owners of the vessel should be published on all national newspapers and when are you prosecuting the oil thieves, if this is not done then na bobo be this.Another lie by APC
@EmekaNjidda: What will happen to the owners of the company?
@191Introvert: Destroying ke ? So fast 😳
@Georeallove: Don’t you guys ever mention names of preparators?
@Obi2icez: Where’s the video of the destroyed vessel 🚢?
@iammakavellid: Why destroyed, 12years in what mode and stealing of our crude oil for that long mehn, Dokubo was right after all, are there no navy on the shore it has been passing through omo
@uchebakaadi: IDAN! Camera Action. Semo
@mayor_swissnd: Stealth mode for 12 years ??? Like fokin 12 years and no one ever saw it ?
@silesanmi64_b: Was the crude offloaded before the vessel was destroyed?
@i_amwhatt_iam: I Hope we see how it was handled
@Great_Ona: So what happens to the culprits and their properties? Seeing the real powerful culprits punished must be paramount and deterrent enough.
@AnslemSolomon: Where is the Carcass?
@Bethel_Anun: Who is the owner of the vessel?
PRESS STATEMENT
PRIVATE SECURITY CONTRACTORS INTERCEPT 800,000 LITRE CAPACITY VESSEL WITH STOLEN CRUDE OIL
Following the receipt of credible intelligence, a Private Security Contractor engaged by NNPC Ltd., Messrs. Tantita Security Services, intercepted a suspicious Vessel with… pic.twitter.com/eWGD7XY0au
— NNPC Limited (@nnpclimited) July 10, 2023