In a decisive crackdown on oil theft, the Nigerian Navy has intercepted a massive wooden boat laden with approximately 90,000 litres of suspected stolen crude oil off the Araromi coastline in Ilaje Local Government Area of Ondo State.
The operation, which took place on Thursday, May 15, was carried out by personnel from the Forward Operating Base (FOB), Igbokoda, following credible intelligence reports on illegal bunkering activities within the region.
Sources revealed that the stolen crude was siphoned from abandoned offshore wellheads around Igbokoda and was headed toward Lagos before naval operatives swooped in.
The suspects manning the boat reportedly fled into the creeks using a high-speed boat upon sighting the naval team, successfully evading arrest.
Despite their escape, the Navy seized several crucial pieces of equipment used in the operation, including three industrial pumping machines, a lengthy discharge hose, and two powerful outboard engines.
The intercepted vessel, along with all recovered items, has been processed in accordance with Defence Headquarters protocols, the Navy confirmed.
READ ALSO: Nigerian Army Recovers 1.2m Litres of Stolen Crude in Niger Delta
Reacting to the development, Captain Aliyu Usman, Commanding Officer of FOB Igbokoda, emphasized that the operation is a clear reflection of the Navy’s resolve to stamp out oil theft and protect Nigeria’s maritime assets.
“This interception is in direct alignment with the Chief of Naval Staff’s operational directives, which are geared towards dismantling networks of economic saboteurs and securing our maritime environment,” Usman stated.
He further assured that the Navy remains vigilant and will continue to intensify its surveillance efforts across coastal communities prone to oil theft and illegal refining operations.
Oil theft has remained a major economic challenge in Nigeria, costing the country billions in lost revenue annually.
The latest interception adds to a growing list of recent maritime security wins by the Navy in curbing the activities of criminal syndicates operating along the nation’s waterways.