- The Navy noted thatvthe estimated quantity of the destroyed product was at 150,000 litres
The Nigerian Navy has reported the interception and destruction of a boat carrying barrels of illegally refined Automated Gas Oil in the waters near the Bonny Island channel in Rivers State.
A senior Navy official in Bonny, speaking anonymously to reporters on Friday, revealed that the boat was apprehended off the Bonny River.
He stated, “In a coordinated effort, the diesel-laden boat was destroyed by men of the Forward Operating Base, Bonny,” putting the estimated quantity of the destroyed product at 150,000 litres.
The official added that the recent efforts by the security outfit were predicated on the charge of the Chief of Naval Staff, Vice Admiral Emmanuel Ogala, asking officers and men to stamp out criminal activities in the maritime domain.
He also said the feat was in tandem with the operations declared by the Flag Officer Commanding, Eastern Naval Command, Rear Admiral Olusola Oluwagbire, and a reaffirmation of the Nigerian Navy’s stance against crimes, especially, those related to crude oil theft which he said has contributed to the recent rise in crude oil production.
“This is our posture and this is in line with the expectation of the Eastern Naval Command Headquarters during the ongoing confrontation phase of the FOC’s Concept of Operation for the last quarter of the year, drawn from the Strategic Guidance of the CNS,” he added.