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A joint team of the Nigerian Army and Tantita Security Services arrested a vacuum truck at Well 3, Olomoro, Delta State, over suspected illegal crude oil bunkering activities.
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The truck driver, Matthew Ojomikre, claimed his company was contracted by Heritage Energy to evacuate sludge but failed to present formal authorization or permits.
A combined operation by officers of the Nigerian Army’s 181 Battalion, Oleh, and Tantita Security Services Nigeria Ltd. has intercepted a vacuum truck laden with suspected illegally extracted crude oil at Well 3, Olomoro, Isoko South Local Government Area of Delta State.
The truck, previously owned by Engr. Daniel Omoyibo (a.k.a. Damotech), was reportedly gifted to the driver, Mr. Matthew Ojomikre, who is now in custody at the battalion’s Forward Operating Base.
According to military sources, Ojomikre confessed during initial questioning that his company had been contracted by Heritage Energy Operational Services Ltd. to evacuate sludge from the well site.
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However, he was unable to provide valid documentation or permit to back the claim—an essential requirement for such operations.
Previously, Heritage Energy had been issuing formal crude and condensate trucking permits to both the Nigerian Army and Tantita Security for effective monitoring of crude movement.
“The absence of official documentation raised serious red flags,” said an officer familiar with the case.
Following the arrest, personnel from the Army, Tantita, and Heritage Energy took samples from the truck for laboratory analysis to determine the nature of the substance.
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Preliminary findings, combined with the driver’s confession, suggest that the crude was extracted illegally under the guise of a legitimate sludge evacuation.
Further revelations indicate that the same truck has been linked to other unauthorized crude evacuations within the Isoko axis.
Authorities are holding the truck, its contents, and the driver pending further interrogation and possible prosecution.
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