BY KELVIN ONYEKACHUKWU, ASABA
DELTA: In a coordinated operation aimed at curbing oil theft in the Niger Delta, operatives of the Nigerian Army’s 181 Battalion, Oleh, in conjunction with Tantita Security Services Nigeria Limited, have intercepted a vacuum truck suspected of transporting stolen crude oil in Isoko South Local Government Area of Delta State.
The arrest was made near Well 3 in the Olomoro axis, a hotspot for oil-related activities. The vehicle, once owned by an oil magnate, Engr. Daniel Omoyibo, and reportedly handed over to the current driver, Mr. Matthew Ojomikre, was caught transporting what was initially presented as sludge. However, investigators suspect it was crude oil illegally siphoned from a wellhead.
Mr. Ojomikre, who is now being detained at the Forward Operating Base (FOB), Oleh, claimed that his company was engaged by Heritage Energy Operational Services Ltd. to evacuate waste from the site. However, his failure to provide any form of official authorization or documentation raised suspicions among the joint security team.
“Normally, Heritage Energy ensures all evacuation operations are documented and cleared through proper channels,” a security source disclosed. “But in this case, there was no paperwork—no clearance, no escort order, nothing. That’s not how legitimate operations are conducted.”
Samples from the truck’s contents have been sent for laboratory analysis by a combined team from the Army, Tantita, and Heritage. Early indications suggest the truck may have been involved in a larger syndicate involved in illegal crude transportation under the cover of legal waste disposal contracts.
Security operatives also noted that the same truck has been flagged in past investigations related to illicit crude oil movement within the Isoko region, pointing to what may be a recurring scheme using compromised logistics operators.
The Nigerian Army and Tantita have assured the public that they will leave no stone unturned in dismantling the network behind the suspected oil theft. Authorities say the truck and its contents will remain in military custody until all investigations are concluded and appropriate legal actions are taken.
“This fight is not just about intercepting a truck,” one operative said. “It is about sending a clear message that illegal oil bunkering will no longer go unchecked. We are committed to protecting Nigeria’s critical economic assets.”
The development comes as security forces intensify surveillance across oil-producing communities, working closely with private security contractors like Tantita to stem the tide of oil theft, a major economic and environmental challenge in the Niger Delta.