Ondo: JTF destroys stolen crude

By Hannah Nathan, Warri

A Joint Task Force made up of members of the Nigeria Navy Forward Operating Base (FOB) Igbokoda, Ondo State, and the Anti- Crude Oil Theft (COT) has apprehended and destroyed about 16,000 liters of illegally refined automotive gas oil and stolen crude oil, estimated to be worth over N13 million.

The Task Force’s Commanding Officer, Captain Wasuku Alushi said, the operation was in response to reliable intelligence as a means of stepping up efforts to combat the widespread illegal bunkering activities that are causing problems in the area.

About 12 nautical miles off the coast of Ojumole and Obe community in Ilaje Local Government Area, the joint team intercepted a wooden boat, also known as a cotonou boat, that was carrying the stolen crude oil.

Speaking through Commander Humphrey Nnaji, the Base’s Executive Officer, Alushi noted that the suspected oil thieves abandoned the boat and left the area as soon as they saw the naval personnel.

The FOB Igbokoda Commanding Officer reaffirmed the base’s commitment to eliminating the threat posed by crude oil theft and other criminal activity within the base and its surroundings.

He pledged to step up intelligence gathering, surveillance, and the forceful deployment of personnel at key locations—particularly choke points within the Base’s operational area—by boat, car, and foot.

Along with the arrest and destruction of illicit products, including those found in Awoye, Ugbo-Nla, Obe-Akinboye, old market road Igbokoda, and Mahin, Alushi also noted the destruction of illegally refined products in various operations, all carried out in accordance with the directives of the Operation Delta Safe (OPDS).

Based on the present pump price, an estimate of the total value of the destroyed illegal petroleum products is N13,251,000.