Men of the Nigerian Navy have apprehended a man, identified as Owei Ogidiogo at Ogidigun village in the Ese Odo Local Government Area of Ondo state for allegedly dealing on illegal refined petroleum product.
This was disclosed by the Commanding Officer of Forward Operation Base, Igbokoda, Navy Captain Livingstone Izu, in a chat with reporters in Akure, the state capital.
According to him, Ogidiogo was arrested by his men, while trying to smuggle 1, 500 litres of adulterated petrol from an illegal refinery to his customers at Arogbo area of the council, adding that the suspect had been handed over to the state Command of the Nigerian Security and Civil Defence Corps ,NSCDC.
He narrated that a team of Naval personnel intercepted the alleged illegal dealer, while on his fibre boat which he was using to convey 60 different 25litres kegs, loaded with refined fuel, each in company of the driver of the boat, Doba Furesso, on May 13.
Izu explained that Ogodiogo had been carrying out the alleged illegal activities since 2012 before he was caught by the Naval personnel, noting that the suspect usually buy the product directly from illicit refiners and sell to users in the area.
His word : ” in realisation of the Chief of Naval Staff strategic guidance objectives, and in line with the mandate of the Joint Task Force Operations PULO SHIELD, the base has since the beginning of this year, involved in the destruction of illegal refineries, arrest of oil thieves and seizure of illegal oil bunkering facilities.”
He also revealed that the base in collaboration with security agencies in the area had destroyed about 37 illegal refineries this year, seized the illegal products and arrested oil thieves who had been handed over to the NSCDC for prosecution.
He then warned those perpetuating evil acts in the area to steer clear as the Nigerian Navy was poised and determined to rid the waterways of criminals and economic saboteurs, also urging members of the public to continue to assist the Base, by providing useful and timely information on the activities of criminals.
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