By Tola Gbadamosi

The Nigerian Navy Forward Operating Base (FOB) in Igbokoda has dismantled nine illegal refining sites and destroyed 20,000 litres of crude oil and 15,000 litres of illegally refined diesel in the Obenla community, Ilaje Local Government Area of Ondo State.

The Commander of the Base, Navy Captain Aliyu Usman, disclosed this in an interview with The Hope Metro.

He stated that the operation, carried out on January 6, 2025, was based on credible intelligence.

“In continuation with the efforts of the Nigerian Navy to stop all acts of crude oil theft and illegal banking activities within the Nigerian environment, the Forward Operating Base, Igbokoda, stormed into a farmhouse of illegal refining camp within Obenla community, where we discovered about nine illegal refining sites within the Obenla sea sites,” Usman revealed.

According to the commander, the suspects fled the scene before the Navy’s arrival.

“On arrival at the scene, the perpetrators have fled, obviously informed about our coming in fear of arrest.

However, the entire area was crammed, and we discovered about 20,000 litres of stolen crude oil, which was yet to be cooked, and about 15,000 litres of illegally refined product suspected to be automatic gas oil (AGO), or diesel,” he explained.

Highlighting the significance of the operation, Usman said, “This is yet another achievement for the Nigerian Navy in the efforts to clean up the environment and prevent all acts of illegalities by perpetrators against the Nigerian state.

These efforts will continue until all illegalities are stopped, and this will be sustained as long as possible.”

The Navy also destroyed all structures used in the illegal operations.
“The magnitude of the structure we discovered tells the huge quantity of stolen crude oil being processed there.

At the end, the Nigerian Navy Forward Operating Base destroyed the entire structure, and we hope this will deter such activities in the future. The area will be monitored to prevent a resurgence,” Usman noted.

In addition to the crackdown, the Navy sensitised residents of the Obenla community on the dangers of harbouring such activities.

“We call on all community leaders and traditional leaders to further educate their subjects and ensure such activities are promptly reported to the Nigerian Navy for urgent action in the interest of the country,” Usman said.

Addressing the perpetrators, he added, “The Nigerian Navy will not relent in our efforts to stop all acts of illegality. It is in their interest to find legitimate businesses to engage in.

For the Nigerian Navy, we will get to them, and all that they have built through these illegalities will be destroyed. They won’t have any respite.”

This decisive action underscores the Navy’s commitment to combating crude oil theft and safeguarding the nation’s resources.