The Anti-Crude Oil Theft, COT, patrol team of Nigerian Navy (NN) Forward Operation Base Igbokoda has paraded 24 suspects with 6 boats and 4500 litres of products suspected to be illegally refined petrol in Igbokoda In Ilaje Local Government area in Ondo State.
The Anti-COT patrol team intercepted and arrested 6 boats on the high sea sea along Ondo -Lagos route. The suspects were apprehend while coming from Excravos in Delta State about 4pm on Wednesday last week.
While parading suspects, Navy Captain Shuaib Ahmed, the Commanding Officer Forward Operating Base Igbokoda Ondo state, said ” our mandate is to combat all forms of illegalities in the maritime environment” and added that “the Forward Operating Base (FOB) in Igbokoda has been professionally carrying out its constitutional responsibilities within its area of operations since inception”
Ahmed expressed displeasure about widespread illegalities such as bunkering, piracy, sea robbery and kidnapping within Ilaje/Ese-Odo Local Government Areas and its adjoining areas. But he assured that the Base would leave no stone unturned in its bid to rid the areas of criminalities; especially with continuous surveillance on all suspected criminal hideouts, creeks as well as sea areas.
Items recovered from the 24 suspects include 1 Blue Cotonou fibre boat containing 150 drums of 250 litres each of products suspected to be illegally refined petrol, 90 and 80 HP Yamaha outboard engines and 1 Pumping machine.
Others include 1 Cotonou wooden boat containing 16 GP tanks of 4500 litres of products suspected to be illegally refined petrol, 2 empty GP tanks, 5 pumping machines, 2 115 HP and 1 85HP outboard engines.
The FOB boss appealed to the people of Ondo state and the general public to support the security agencies and see the task securing of lives and properties as everyone’s business.
In his words “The communities are requested to provide the Base with meaningful information that could lead to curb all forms of economic sabotage like crude oil theft, illegal bunkering and crimes like kidnapping as well as piracy amongst others”
“The Nigerian navy in line with its mandate and the Chief of the Naval Staff strategic guidance will continue to conduct operations and patrols of similar nature toward ensuring a secured maritime environment for people to go about their legitimate economic and commercial activities peacefully and freely.
