The Nigerian Navy Ship (NNS) BEECROFT, has seized a wooden boat at Akaraba sea side area of Atlas Cove, Lagos, conveying 1,400 Jerry cans of 25 litres of petrol.
Navy spokesman, Commodore Suleman Dahun, made the disclosure in a statement on Thursday in Abuja.
He said that the Navy also seized 27 empty drums and five 75HP outboard engines from the suspects.
” The estimated suspected stolen PMS is 35,000 litres valued at about Five million and Seventy Five Thousand Naira (N5,075,000) only, while the Cotonou boat and the outboard engines are valued at about Fifteen million Naira (N15,000,000) only,” he stated.
Dahun said the total sum of the seized items was put at N20.07 million.
He noted that the Atlas Cove was central to distribution of refined petroleum products to other NNPC depots at Mosimi, Ore, Ibadan and Shagamu areas.
“Consequently, the facility has become very attractive to vandals, petroleum thieves and pirates among others,” he noted.
He said the seizure was a major achievement for the Navy and a set back to the logistics infrastructure of maritime criminals.
The Commander, NNS BEECROFT, Rear Adm. Okon Eyo, was reported in the statement as saying that the Navy base would continue to dominate the nation’s water ways in order to prevent the theft of Nigeria’s commonwealth.
He said the effort was in line with the zero tolerance policy of the Chief of Naval Staff, Vice Admiral Ibok-Ete Ibas, to all forms of illegalities in the nation’s maritime space. (NAN)