Men of the Nigerian Navy Forward Operating Base (FOB) in Igbokoda, Ondo State, over the weekend, intercepted and destroyed 15,775 liters of stolen crude oil in the Ilaje axis of the state.

The Commanding Officer of the base, Captain Wasuku Alushi, who estimated the value of the products to be N13,251,000, said the operation was carried out by the anti-crude Oil Theft (COT) patrol team.

According to Commander Humphrey Nnaji, who spoke on behalf of Alushi, the products were destroyed by the mandate of the joint task force Operation Delta Safe on COT.

He emphasized that the team had received intel on illegal bunkering within the axis, after which a wooden boat popularly known as a “Cotonou” laden with crude oil was tracked and intercepted.

“The wooden boat was intercepted about 12 nautical miles (NM) off the coast of the adjoining Ojumole and Obe communities in the Ilaje Local Government Area of Ondo State. On sighting naval personnel, the crew abandoned the boat and fled,” he said.