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UPDATED: Tantita intercepts another vessel for oil theft in Bayelsa

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The war against crude oil theft recorded a boost as operatives of Tantita Security Services Limited have again intercepted another vessel in Delta State.

It was gathered that the seizure was made possible in collaboration with operatives of the Nigerian Navy.

 

Tantita Security Services Limited (TSSNL) owned by former militant leader, Government Ekpemupolo alias Tompolo, was contracted by the Nigerian National Petroleum Company (NNPC) Limited to protect pipelines from vandalisation.

While the authorities yet to brief journalists on the latest seizure, the vessel MT Harbour Spirit, with IMO No. 8226272, is anchored at the Tantita facility in Oporoza, Warri South-West Local Government Area of Delta State.

 

The latest seizure comes barely a month after the naval authorities apprehended a vessel involved in crude oil theft in Igbokoda area of Ondo State.

 

According to a statement issued by the Director of Naval Information, Commodore Adedotun Ayo-Vaughan, the 77-meter-long Motor Tanker (MT) VINNALARIS 1 LAGOS was arrested on December 7.

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Ayo-Vaughan said the vessel, which had 17 crew members onboard at the time of arrest, was caught engaging in illegal siphoning of crude oil from one of the well heads at EBESAN oil field about 7 nautical miles off the coast of Awoye riverine community in Ilaje Local Government Area of Ondo state.

 

Oil theft has had negative impact on the country’s economy and has been a source of concern to the Nigerian government over the years.

 

Worried by the activities of economic saboteurs, the Federal Government awarded a pipeline surveillance contract last August. The contract, reportedly worth N48 billion per year (N4 billion per month), was awarded to Tantita Security Services Nigeria Limited to tackle the issue in the region.

 

Despite some successes recorded by the private security outfit, security company has recorded several successes, especially during joint operations with the Nigerian military, oil theft has not been completely eradicated.

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Gunmen attack church in Ekiti, kill pastor, abduct worshippers

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Some yet-to-be-identified gunmen have attacked a Christ Apostolic Church in Eda Oniyo Ekiti, Ilejemeje Local Government Area of Ekiti State, killing a pastor and abducting an unspecified number of worshippers.


According to reports, the attack, which occurred during a church programme on Tuesday night, has thrown the community into panic, with residents expressing fears over rising insecurity in the area.


Sources in the community said the assailants, who were armed and arrived in numbers, stormed the church located on the outskirts of the town, shot the pastor dead and whisked away several worshippers into a nearby forest.


Sources, who spoke on condition of anonymity, said efforts were ongoing to determine the exact number of abducted victims.


“The invaders were many. They killed the pastor and took away some worshippers. We cannot say the number yet. Moves to collate those who are missing have begun. The community is in a panic mode for now,” the source said.

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The Police Public Relations Officer in Ekiti state, Sunday Abutu, who confirmed the incident, said the Commissioner of Police, Michael Falade, has ordered a thorough investigation and a manhunt for the perpetrators.


“The Police in collaboration with the Nigerian Army, the Amotekun Corps, the Agro Marshal, the Vigilantes and the local hunters have commenced an aggressive bush combing operations and a serious manhunt on the perpetrators in order to ensure the rescue of the victims and the arrest and prosecution of the culprits,” Abutu said.


He added that the police were working to ensure the safe rescue of the victims and the arrest of those responsible.



“The commissioner of Police calls for calm as necessary steps are currently being taken to salvage the situation and forestall recurrence.


“Members of the public are charged to be security conscious, vigilant and promptly report any suspicious person or group of persons found within their environments to the police and other security agencies for necessary proactive actions,” he added.

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Abutu also advised religious leaders to notify the police before organising late-night gatherings to enable adequate security arrangements.


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Couple beats adopted daughter to death in Lagos

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The Igando community in Lagos state  has been thrown into deep mourning following the death of a 10-year-old girl, who was allegedly beaten to death by her adopted parents, Paul Onyeama and Adline Ogbonna.

According to reports, the incident occurred on Sunday, following weeks of alleged abuse.

The couple, who lived on Jemesi Papa Street, reportedly subjected the minor to persistent maltreatment, including frequent assaults and sending her on strenuous errands despite her young age.

The girl, identified as Faith, was said to have fallen ill for about two weeks, but the alleged abuse reportedly continued unabated.

A resident of the area, said the situation escalated on Sunday when the husband and wife were said to have severely beaten the ailing child, leading to her death.

He said, “The couple had adopted a 10-year-old girl. They had been consistently maltreating and assaulting the child, while also sending her on unnecessary errands.

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“I was informed that the girl had been sick for about two weeks, yet the abuse continued. Yesterday, both the husband and wife allegedly beat the child severely despite her condition, and sadly, she died.”

It was gathered that the suspects later rushed the victim to a hospital, where she was confirmed dead on arrival.

Youths in the area, who were reportedly angered by the development, apprehended the woman.

The husband had allegedly left home earlier to procure a tricycle to dispose of the girl’s corpse, was also held by the youths.

“The moment the girl died, they kept her corpse in the room and acted as though nothing had happened. The wife even came out this morning to cook in the kitchen like nothing had happened.

“It was residents who had been observing what was going on that raised the alarm about the whereabouts of the girl before they discovered that she had died. If they had succeeded in disposing of the body, no one would have known her whereabouts,” a resident said.

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Police operatives were thereafter deployed to the scene, leading to the arrest of the couple and the recovery of the child’s body.

“Our preliminary findings revealed that the child was already dead before she was brought to the medical facility. The case will be transferred to the State Criminal Investigation Department, Panti, for further investigation,” a source said.

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EFCC arrests Cameroonian businessman for alleged ₦1.5bn bank fraud in Lagos

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Operatives of the Lagos Zonal Directorate 2 of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), Ikoyi, Lagos, have arrested a Cameroonian businessman, Bekono Eric, for allegedly defrauding a first-generation bank of about N1.5bn.

A statement by Dele Oyewale, the Commission’s spokesperson, described the 47-year-old suspect as a member of a suspected trans-border syndicate that allegedly specialises in credit card fraud.

He was arrested on Thursday, April 23, 2026, in the Ikorodu area of Lagos.

According to the EFCC, investigations revealed that members of the suspected syndicate allegedly open bank accounts in Nigeria, obtain Automated Teller Machine (ATM) cards and PINs, and then move to neighbouring countries where they allegedly used the cards to carry out fraudulent transactions on accounts belonging to customers with high balances.

The suspect will be charged in court as soon as investigations are concluded.

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