The Nigerian Navy, NNS Jubilee Area of Operation (AOO), has intercepted a boat carrying 100,000 litres of crude oil in Ikot Abasi Local Government Area, Akwa Ibom.
Commander of the operation, Commodore Martins Fakrogha, who spoke with reporters at Ibaka in Mbo Local Government Area on Thursday revealed that the boat was apprehended on Tuesday at around 5.00 am while approaching one of the state’s oil wells.
However, the crude oil thieves abandoned the boat when they spotted a boat with Nigerian Navy soldiers on board.
Commodore Martins said; “From a credible source, a large boat known as Cotonou boat was sighted at about 23.9 nautical miles seaward of Imo River entrance.
“The objectives of Operation Delta Sanity 2 is to checkmate illegal bunkering, pipeline vandalism, smuggling, piracy amongst other maritime crimes in the Eastern Flank of the country’s maritime environment with a view to increase the country’s crude oil production.”
Items seized on board included 100,000 litres of products suspected to be crude oil, 12 Gee Pee tanks, three Service tanks, four Submersible pumps, and three Outboard engines.
He also cautioned crude oil thieves and other criminals operating around the country’s eastern flank to desist, adding that the Navy was ready to “deal ruthlessly with economic saboteurs.”