From Bamigbola Gbolagunte, Akure
The Nigerian Navy has discovered eight illegal bunkering sites at Obe-Akinboye seaside community in Ilaje Local Government Area, Ondo State, during an operation conducted by personnel from the Forward Operating Base (FOB) Igbokoda on Tuesday, April 15, at around 3:00 a.m.
Captain Aliyu Usman, Commanding Officer of the base, attributed the discovery to a robust intelligence network and vigilant naval personnel combating maritime crime and economic sabotage.
He stated that upon receiving intelligence about the illegal refining camps, the base’s Quick Response Team, stationed at a nearby Naval Security Outpost, was swiftly mobilised to raid the sites.
“The perpetrators fled upon sighting the naval assault team, abandoning the illegal sites,” Usman said.
Inspection revealed eight refining camps with storage tanks and reservoirs containing an estimated 50,000 litres of stolen crude oil, alongside equipment including three wooden boats, pumping machines, and discharge pipes.
Usman confirmed that the sites and items were handled per Defence Headquarters’ directives. He warned criminals and economic saboteurs to cease operations, reiterating the Navy’s zero-tolerance stance on maritime crime and crude oil theft. The operation aligns with the directive of Chief of Naval Staff, Vice Admiral Emmanuel Ogalla, to secure Nigeria’s waters and pursue those undermining its maritime resources.