The Nigerian Navy has intercepted a wooden boat carrying 90,000 litres of stolen crude oil at the Araromi riverine community in Ilaje Local Government Area, Ondo State.

The operation, carried out by personnel from the Forward Operating Base (FOB) in Igbokoda, targeted illegal bunkering activities in the region.Capt. Aliyu Usman, Commanding Officer of FOB Igbokoda, told reporters on Friday that the crude oil was illegally sourced from abandoned offshore oil well heads near Igbokoda and was being transported to Lagos before the Navy’s intervention.

On the suspects fleeing the scene, Capt. Usman said, “On sighting the naval team, the suspects manning the boat fled into the creeks in an accompanying speedboat, evading arrest.”

The Navy recovered key equipment from the boat, including “three pumping machines, a long discharge hose, and two high-powered outboard engines used for navigation,” Capt. Usman added.

These items have been processed according to Defence Headquarters regulations.He emphasized the operation’s significance, stating, “The latest interception underscores the Navy’s sustained efforts to curb oil theft and uphold the integrity of Nigeria’s vital oil infrastructure.”

Reaffirming the Navy’s commitment, Capt. Usman concluded, “We remain unwavering in our mission to protect the nation’s maritime domain and safeguard critical national assets, in line with the Chief of Naval Staff’s directive to crack down on economic saboteurs and ensure maritime security.”