Some Nigerians have reacted to the burning of a seized vessel by security operatives of the Joint Task Force, Operation Delta Safe in collaboration with Tantita Security Services Nigeria Limited.
The task force had set ablaze an intercepted vessel carrying barrels of stolen crude oil in the Escravos area of Delta State.
The vessel was set ablaze by a military helicopter.
The vessel, allegedly owned by a Nigerian registered company, was heading to Cameroon with the cargo onboard when it was apprehended at an offshore location with the captain and crew members onboard.
Reacting to the issue, Barr. Jesutega Onokpasa, said in a message titled;
“NNPC, TANTITA SET VESSEL ABLAZE IN DELTA” BARBARIC,” that “this idea of setting vessels etc ablaze is pure idiocy quite apart from being barbaric and irretrievably illegal.
“Why not simply confiscate the vessel vide appropriate legal proceedings rather than further pollute the environment with this utter stupidity?
“And how dare you even set property ablaze which has not been forfeited upon legal proceedings?
“Tompolo and Tantita are vandals, rascals and thugs and shame on them (by the way I have sent Tompolo this message)
“This is how Peter Obi, the clown who wants to save Nigeria from himself, used to bulldoze houses in which kidnap victims were kept in Anambra, back when he was Governor, without any trial, much less conviction of anyone in a state and country with a critical housing deficit.
“We simply can’t have this in Batman’s era.”
Also commenting, Ibrahim Mohammed Oyi, a public affairs commentator, said that “for the first time in years some of us have started to get confidence in our leadership.
“Times without numbers many vessels were caught but most Nigerians never got to know what happened to it afterwards. Is time we do the right thing.
“All those making unnecessary noise that investigation should be carried out before any action could be taken. Please how many cases of these that happened in the past which ever saw light of the day.
“The National Assembly members calling for “investigation”. Please can they tell Nigerians what were the results of all investigations they carried out in the past which involved several cases that happened to be threats to national security?
“The whole investigations ended up in trash can and they would’ve succeeded in enriching themselves at the expenses of Nigeria tax payers.
“Whoever that is dissatisfied with the action taken should kindly tell the reasonable and sincere Nigerians what was supposed to be done. On the alternative, they can as well buy another vessel for the owners which am sure could be one of their own.
“We’re in Renew Hope era. Is either you join the team/train or you face the law.”
In his view, Barrister Abdul-Aziz Jimoh, Esq said that; “It is hugely disappointing to note that Nigerian security agents now willy-nilly sets fire to arrested vessels laden with stolen crude! Do these illiterates ever consider the environmental impact of setting fire to a tanker laden with stolen crude?
“Who gave the judgment to destroy the tanker? When was the case charged to court and decided? They have destroyed material evidence!! It is difficult to convince anyone that the vessel wasn’t destroyed to conceal material evidence!
“When is there going to be a change of orientation by our military? This is lawlessness and self-help, with environmental hazards impact! Must our military take laws into it’s own hands in a democracy? Who are being protected by the peremptory destruction of the vessels?”
In his comments, Mr Tony igbaroola described the destruction of the vessel as “mindless wastage in the midst of this pains and hunger.”
He said; “I should trust a Man who willfully burnt 800,000 litres of stolen crude along with the vessel!
“Such mindless wastage in the midst of this pains and hunger.
“This action knocked down international conventions that could bring sanctions. Pollution and environmental damages etc.
“The vociferous South West Press are currently on vacation and ‘awalokan’ has blotted our thoughts and reasoning.
“Absurdities. Who does that?”
