The Nigerian Navy Naval Base Oguta has arrested three suspects and intercepted a truck and a bus conveying about 8,500 litres of suspected illegally refined petroleum products in Oguta Local Government Area of Imo State.

The operation was conducted on August 21, 2026, by personnel of the Naval Base deployed at the Forward Operating Base (FOB) Izombe, in collaboration with troops of the Nigerian Army’s 342 Artillery Brigade. In a statement by the Naval Base, the personnel intercepted a tipper truck, with registration number BLF 217 XA, Enugu, and a Toyota Hiace bus, with registration number EHM 36 XA, Imo, during a routine patrol along the Ejemekuru–Obudi-Agwa Road in Oguta LGA at about 7:45 p.m.

According to the command, the two vehicles were reportedly transporting about 150 bags containing an estimated 8,500 litres of items suspected to be illegally refined petroleum products, commonly referred to as bunkery. The Naval command said three suspects, identified as Okolo Somtochukwu, 30; Chimezie Emeodi, 39; and Uche Onyedikachi, 25, all from Imo State, were subsequently arrested alongside the two vehicles.

The Naval command said, however, the driver and other occupants of the Toyota Hiace bus escaped into the bush, abandoning the vehicle. The Navy said the arrested suspects and the recovered exhibits were subsequently taken to the base at about 10:10 p.m. for further investigation.

Speaking on the operation, the Commander, Naval Base Oguta, Commodore Sabo Tanko Lengaya, described the arrests and interception as a significant success in the ongoing efforts by the command to combat crude oil theft and other forms of economic sabotage targeting critical national assets.

Lengaya said the interception was also in furtherance of the Nigerian Navy’s strategic mandate within its area of operations. According to him, the the operation was consistent with the Nigerian Navy’s internal security objectives aimed at denying criminal elements freedom of action in Imo State.

Lengaya stressed that the timely interception of the suspects and recovery of the suspected illegally refined petroleum products had denied the criminal syndicate an opportunity to further its activities. He stated that information obtained from the arrested suspects was expected to provide valuable intelligence to support follow-on operations targeting other members of the network.

The commander emphasised that the operation further demonstrated the effectiveness of intelligence-led operations in disrupting criminal networks involved in economic sabotage. Lengaya said sustained intelligence gathering, persistent surveillance of critical oil and gas infrastructure, aggressive domination patrols and random vehicle checks along known evacuation routes should be maintained.

He also called for closer collaboration with other security agencies and host communities to deny criminals freedom of action, prevent further crude oil theft and consolidate the gains recorded under the Nigerian Navy’s maritime and internal security operations.