The Nigeria Navy, yesterday, handed over five arrested suspected oil thieves and boat snatchers claiming to be members of Tantita Security Service to the Lagos State Police Command.

The suspects, Owoyele Joseph Omotuyi, Obajimi Oluwaseyifunmi, Balogun Oluwadaisi, Asonja Godday and Awolowo Aribo were arrested on August 29, 2023.

Items recovered from the suspects include a 300-horsepower boat engine and eleven 1000 litres tanks with petroleum products suspected to be stolen crude oil.

Speaking at the State Police Headquarters in Lagos, Commander, Nigeria Navy Ship BEECROFT, Apapa, Commodore Kolawole Oguntuga, said that the men were apprehended in Tolu Community, Ibeju-Lekki, Lagos.

He said: “We received a distress call from the community that sporadic gunshots were heard. So, men from the operating base in Lekki, on getting to the waterfront, met the men dressed in black polo T-shirts with Tantita written at the back.

“They were trying to forcefully collect a 300-horsepower outboard engine from a local. Our men apprehended them and retrieved the engine.”

Thereafter, our men realised that the arrested men were part of a group escorting two wooden boats.

“Our men beckoned on them to come over but they took off, but our men approached the boats only to discover eleven 1000 litres tanks with petroleum products suspected to be stolen crude oil onboard the wooden boats.

“The handover of the suspects and the exhibits to the Nigeria Police is to unravel the circumstances and the escaped men in the other boat that are at large.

“Also, this handover re-enforces the synergy between the security agencies that we will continue to work together and leave no gap for any person or group to have their way to carry out nefarious activities in the state.

“This is to advise the public, especially those in coastal communities, that security agencies will not relent in ensuring the environment is conducive for people to do legitimate business in accordance with the law.”

Reacting, Lagos State Commissioner of Police, Idowu Owohunwa, said: “In Lagos State, the security architecture is firmly built on strong synergy between the police, the military, the community and other state security agencies.”