The Forward Operating Base (FOB) of the Nigerian Navy in Igbokoda, Ondo State, on Tuesday, April 15, 2025, announced the destruction of eight illegal bunkering sites in the Obe-Akinboye seaside community, Ilaje Local Government Area. The operation is being hailed as a major success in the ongoing war against maritime crimes and economic sabotage in the region.
Addressing journalists, the Commanding Officer of the base, Navy Captain Aliyu Usman, stated that the illegal operations were discovered and neutralised through intelligence-led surveillance and swift deployment of a Quick Response Team from a nearby Naval Security Outpost.
“Upon receiving intelligence about the illegal refining camps, our team was promptly mobilised to the area around 3 a.m., and we were able to dismantle eight illegal bunkering sites,” Captain Usman said.
The perpetrators reportedly fled the area upon detecting the presence of naval forces. On-site, the team uncovered storage tanks and reservoirs containing an estimated 50,000 litres of stolen crude oil. Equipment used in the illicit operations — including three wooden boats, pumping machines, and discharge pipes — were also seized and destroyed in line with Defence Headquarters directives.
“This successful operation is a testament to the Nigerian Navy’s resolve to eliminate crude oil theft and all forms of illegality in our maritime domain,” Usman added.
He issued a stern warning to individuals and groups engaged in economic sabotage, urging them to abandon their activities or face the full weight of the law. The naval officer emphasized the Navy’s zero-tolerance policy on illegal bunkering and reaffirmed their commitment to securing Nigeria’s waterways.
The operation follows the directive of the Chief of Naval Staff, Vice Admiral Emmanuel Ogalla, who tasked naval formations across the country with ensuring maritime safety and the protection of national economic assets.
The Nigerian Navy has intensified its crackdown on maritime crimes, particularly in the Niger Delta and coastal regions, as part of wider national efforts to curb crude oil theft and safeguard the country’s oil revenue.
