By Tola Gbadamosi

Men of the Quick Response Team of the Nigerian Navy, Forward Operating Base (FOB), Igbokoda, have intercepted a boat carrying about 100,000 litres of stolen crude oil at the Idiogba-Mahin coastline in Ilaje Local Government Area of Ondo State.

The Commanding Officer of the base, Capt. Aliyu Usman, disclosed this to Hope Metro on Thursday during an assessment visit to the site.

According to him, the Naval team acted on credible intelligence and deployed its Quick Response Team.

Usman added that the team seized the wooden boat, which contained the stolen crude oil, along with items used for bunkering activities, such as discharge hoses and pumping machines.

The commanding officer further stated that the perpetrators fled upon sighting the response team.

“In the process, the team intercepted a large wooden boat laden with about 100,000 litres of stolen crude oil, alongside associated accessories such as discharge hoses and pumping machines.

“The perpetrators fled on sighting the Naval team, but the arrested boat was thereafter secured.

“Accordingly, a sample of the crude oil was taken for appropriate laboratory testing, while the boat and the product were handled in line with extant directives,” Usman said.