The Nigerian Navy Beecroft, Apapa, Lagos, has foiled an attempt by an eight-man gang to break a pipeline and siphon petroleum products on the Lagos waterways.

The suspects were arrested in the early hours of Wednesday, while on their way to siphon the product. Their operational wooden boat, with over 300 drums, pumping machines, and other equipment, was also recovered.

Commander, NNS Beecroft, Commodore Kolawole Oguntuga, attributed the arrest to the swift and proactive response of the Navy’s patrol team. 

He said that the team was vectored by the state-of-the-art Maritime Domain Awareness Facility, the Falcone Eye Alignment, which intercepted the large wooden boat at about 2:30am on October 25, 2023, within Lagos anchorage.

Commodore Oguntuga said that the timely interception prevented disaster associated with the illegal handling of inflatable petroleum products by unscrupulous elements. 

He added that the proactive response initiated by the patrol team further reveals the Nigerian Navy’s unwavering commitment towards safeguarding vital resources as well as effective safety of life and property particularly within the maritime domain.

“The NNS BEECROFT patrol team vectored by the state-of-the-art Maritime Domain Awareness Facility, the Falcone Eye Alignment, intercepted a large wooden boat at about 2.30am on October 25, 2023, within Lagos anchorage.

“This wooden boat laden with eight crew, over 300 drums, pumping machines and other equipment was prevented from getting to its destination to perpetrate illegal bunkering, which could have robbed the nation of huge quantity of products for consumption by Nigerians.

“The timely interception by the patrol team is also commendable, as it prevented disaster associated with illegal handling of these inflatable petroleum products by unscrupulous elements.

“The proactive response initiated by the patrol team further reveals the Nigerian Navy’s unwavering commitment under the leadership of the Chief of the Naval Staff, Vice Admiral Emmanuel Ogalla, towards safeguarding vital resources as well as effective safety of live and property particularly within the maritime domain,” he said.

The suspects, whose identities were given as Selafei Tito, Seba Hunton, Etieni Abibu, Ahousansou Lawlent, Oke Job, Abel Yede, Matiye Husa, and Husa Hungha, were handed over to the Nigeria Security and Civil Corps, NSCDC, for further investigation and prosecution.

Commodore Oguntuga said that this would send a strong message that the Nigerian Navy remains resolute at effective ocean governance by ensuring the full weight of the law is meted on perpetrators of maritime crimes, which is necessary to sustain the economic prosperity of the nation.