By Wealth Oghenemaro
In a joint security operation, troops from the Nigerian Army’s 181 Battalion and personnel of Tantita Security Services Nigeria Ltd. have intercepted a vacuum truck allegedly involved in the illicit extraction of crude oil at Well 3, situated in Olomoro, Isoko South Local Government Area of Delta State.
The vehicle, allegedly owned by Engr. Daniel Omoyibo, popularly known as Damotech, was reportedly handed over to the current driver, Mr. Matthew Ojomikre, who is now in custody at the 181 Battalion’s Forward Operating Base (FOB) in Oleh.
According to military sources, Ojomikre claimed his company had been contracted by Heritage Energy Operational Services Ltd. to evacuate sludge from the oil well. However, he failed to present any valid permits or documentation to support the operation, a critical requirement that had previously been adhered to by Heritage in past activities involving crude and condensate trucking.
Both the Nigerian Army and Tantita officials, suspicious of the operation’s legitimacy, collected samples from the vacuum truck for forensic analysis. Preliminary findings and a confession from the driver point toward an illegal oil bunkering scheme disguised as sludge removal.
Security sources further disclosed that the truck has a known history of unauthorized crude oil movements in the Isoko axis, deepening suspicions of long-running oil theft operations under the guise of legal activity.
Currently, the truck, its cargo, and the driver remain detained at the 181 Battalion Base in Oleh as investigations continue. Legal proceedings are expected to follow upon completion of laboratory tests and further interrogation.
