By Sunday Apah
A collaborative operation involving officers from the 181 Battalion of the Nigerian Army and personnel from Tantita Security Services Nigeria Ltd. has resulted in the arrest of a vacuum truck implicated in the illegal extraction of crude oil at Well 3, located in Olomoro, Isoko South Local Government Area of Delta State.
Reports indicate that the truck, formerly owned by Engr. Daniel Omoyibo, also known as Damotech, had been given to the driver, Mr. Matthew Ojomikre, who is currently detained at the Forward Operating Base (FOB) of the 181 Battalion in Oleh.
During questioning, the driver revealed that his company had been engaged by Heritage Energy Operational Services Ltd. to remove sludge from Well 3 in Olomoro.
However, he could not produce any official approvals or documentation for this operation, which had been standard practice in the past.
Heritage Energy Operational Services Ltd. had routinely provided crude oil and condensate trucking permits to the Nigerian Army and Tantita Security Services for adequate oversight from the loading site to the delivery point.
In conjunction with the Nigerian Army, officers from Tantita Security Services have taken samples from the vacuum truck for laboratory analysis and testing.
The driver’s initial confession suggests he unlawfully extracted crude oil from Well 3, masquerading as an operation to evacuate sludge from the wellheads.
Authorities confirmed that the truck has a history of unauthorized crude oil evacuations in the Isoko region.
The driver, the truck, and its cargo are currently detained at the 181 Battalion Base in Oleh, pending further questioning and potential legal action.
