From Adewale Momoh, Akure

The Nigerian Navy has uncovered eight illegal bunkering sites at Obe-Akinboye seaside community in Ilaje Local Council of Ondo State. The operation, conducted in the early hours of yesterday by personnel of Forward Operating Base (FOB), Igbokoda, was described as a major breakthrough in the fight against maritime crime.

Commanding Officer of the base, Captain Aliyu Usman, said the discovery followed actionable intelligence and the vigilance of naval personnel. He explained that upon receiving the information, the base’s Quick Response Team, stationed at a nearby naval security outpost, was immediately deployed to the area.

According to him, the suspects fled on sighting the naval assault team, abandoning the illegal refining sites. Upon inspection, the team uncovered eight camps with storage tanks and reservoirs containing an estimated 50,000 litres of stolen crude oil. Also found were crude oil theft-related equipment, including three wooden boats, pumping machines, and discharge pipes.

Usman said the items were handled in line with Defence Headquarters’ directives.He warned economic saboteurs to desist from illegal activities, reaffirming the Navy’s zero-tolerance stance on maritime crime and oil theft.

He added that the operation aligns with the Chief of Naval Staff, Vice Admiral Emmanuel Ikechukwu Ogalla’s directive for naval bases to safeguard Nigeria’s maritime resources.