Oil Theft: Tantita Security Vows to Apprehend Arsonists
From ERIC MOORE, Port Harcourt
The Tantita Security Services Nigerian Limited, Bille Kingdom Cluster in Rivers State, has vowed that security agents will fish out those that attacked its personnel and other natives and razed their buildings last Monday.
Leader of the surveillance security outfit in the area, Ibunemi West, made the declaration when addressing journalists on the wanton destruction of houses belonging to members of Tantita security network in Bille Kingdom.
West maintained that, anyone fighting Tantita security network on federal government order to eradicate crude oil theft in Bille Kingdom, is fighting the federal government and not Ibunemi West and must face the full weight of the law.
An eyewitness report also confirmed the heinous mission of the hoodlums at early morning hours of Monday, who razed houses of members of Tantita security network, by unknown arsonists.
The report also maintained that the malicious attack was done by some hoodlums sponsored by suspected oil mongers with firearms in Bille Kingdom cluster.
According to sources from the area, sponsors of the attackers were those indulging in illegal oil bunkering, who are opposed to the zero tolerance mantra for oil theft in the area by West.
The sources disclosed that the militia group stormed at the residence of Mr.Ari-Emi Orlu at exactly 2am and set the five-bedroom bungalow ablaze.
One of the sources, Mike, said: “From there, the moved to the residence of Mr. Felix Obene, an operational officer of the cluster’s Tantita security outfit and also burnt down his four bedroom bungalow.
“They (arsonists ) proceeded to the residence of another operational officer, Mr. Dum Monday’s compound and also burnt down his two buildings, shooting sporadically and scaring away members of the community.”
However, people of Bille community have called on security agencies at both federal and state levels, to come to their rescue, as the community now lives in fear.
Pentoks News gathered that no casualty was recorded and no arrest has been made. But, investigation is ongoing to unravel the people that carried out the attack.