The Nigerian Navy Ship, NNS BEECROFT, has successfully prevented illegal bunkering activities in the Igboelejo community area of Lagos State and apprehended the boat used for these unlawful operations.
Commodore Kolawole Oguntuga, the Commander of NNS BEECROFT, announced this development during a press briefing in Lagos on Friday.
Oguntuga explained that this accomplishment was made possible through swift action in response to intelligence received on Thursday, utilizing the state-of-the-art Maritime Domain Awareness Facility known as the Falcon Eye Alignment.
He further revealed that the vessel apprehended contained 205 drums filled with a substance suspected to be Premium Motor Spirit (PMS) and various other products.
“The patrol team vectored to the specified area and successfully apprehended a large blue fiber boat suspected to be engaged in illegal bunkering.
“The patrol team acted with precision, securing the vessel and promptly transporting it to the base,” he said.
The commander said that regrettably, the perpetrators abandoned the boat and fled upon sighting the patrol team.
“However, investigation and necessary actions to ensure appropriate handling of the incident is ongoing,” the NNS BEECROFT boss added.
He said that the operation underscored the navy’s unwavering commitment under the leadership of the Chief of Naval Staff, Vice Adm. Emmanuel Ogalla, to ensure safety in the maritime domain.
“We will continue to ensure and sustain maritime security and eradicate illicit activities that can trigger fire hazard in coastal communities and within our maritime domain,” he said.
Oguntuga appealed to the general public to provide necessary information to nip catastrophic incidents in the bud before they occurred.
He added that the navy remained steadfast in its mission to maintain a safe and secure maritime environment for the prosperity of the nation.
