Navy destroy over 15,000 litres of illegal crude oil in Ondo
By Akintunde Jacobs, Akure
Men of the anti-crude oil theft patrol team of the Nigeria Navy Forward Operating Base (FOB) Igbokoda, in Ilaje Local Government Area of Ondo State, have destroyed 15,775 litres of crude oil/ illegally refined automotive gas oil from illegal bunkering and oil thieves worth about N13,251,000 naira.
Nigerian NewsDirect reports that the crude oil of approximately 5,000 litres were destroyed in accordance with the Joint Task Force Operation Delta Safe mandate on COT.
Executive Officer of the Base, Commander Humphrey Nnaji, on behalf of Commanding Officer, Captain Wasuku Alushi, who made this known at the weekend, explained, that based on credible Intel, the Task Force moved to sustain the fight against illegal bunkering and in the process, tracked and intercepted a wooden boat popularly referred to as cotonou boat laden with crude oil.
“The wooden boat was intercepted about 12NM off the coast of adjoining Ojumole and Obe community in Ilaje local government area of Ondo state.
The Naval boss added that “on sighting of the Naval personnel, the crew abandoned the boat and fled.”
Speaking further on the mandate of the Base, he pointed out that it was established to serve as a force multiplier for the Western Naval Command, (WNC) in furtherance of its policing roles especially the Anti-Crude Oil Theft (COT) and illegal bunkering.
“FOB Igbokoda is operationally responsible to the Flag Officer Commanding Western Naval Command under the leadership of Rear Admiral MB Hassan.”
The Commanding Officer of the Base, Alushi, however, reiterated the commitment of the Base to stamp out the menace of COT and other crimes in Igbokoda and its environs.
Additionally, he stated that the Base will intensify her intelligence gathering, surveillance, robust and aggressive maritime, vehicular as well as static deployment of personnel at strategic locations especially choke points within the Base area of operation.
“So far, within six weeks of the CO’s assumption of command, the Base has made great strides in the arrest and destruction of illegally refined products all in accordance with OPDS directive/mandate.
“On 13 October 23, 2023, a wooden boat laden with about 2,000 litres of suspected illegally refined crude products was intercepted and destroyed at Awoye.
He further revealed that, “In another operation on 18 Oct ’23, based on credible intelligence, the Base discovered an illegal storage site with approximately 5,000 litres of illegal POL products at Ugbo-Nla, which was destroyed in accordance with OPDS directives.
“In furtherance of the Base operations against COT, on 27 Oct 23, the Base stormed an IRS at Obe-Akinboye in Obenla community which was observed to be under reactivation for illegal refining of illegally refined AGO which was also destroyed in accordance with the mandate.”
He, however, assured the good people of Igbokoda and its environs that the Base was already poised to stem the vicious cycle of criminality and provide a stable and peaceful environment for citizens to go about their legitimate businesses without fear or intimidation and for economic activities to thrive unabated.
