Ondo, March 16, 2024 – The Nigerian Navy Forward Operating Base in Igbokoda, Ondo State, has destroyed N97 million worth of illegally refined petrol in an illegal refinery in Biokpu/Opouama riverine communities in Ilaje Local Government Area of Ondo State.
Navy Captain Wasuku Alushi, the Commanding Officer of the Base, said in a statement on Saturday that the Operation was in furtherance of the mandate of Operations Delta Sanity.
He said the refined product was worth about N97 million.
Alushi said that Flag Officer Commanding, Western Naval Command, Rear Admiral Mustapha Bala Hassan, launched a special Air Operations that provided aerial intelligence on criminal hideouts and other hot spots in the Area.
“This need to involve the helicopters was informed by an earlier threat assessment of the environment.
‘We assessed that we needed additional layer of protection from the Air as well as the need for precision we in order to avoid collateral damage to nearby national assets.
“Although we have not been able to nab any suspect yet because of the difficult nature of the terrain, most of them must have absconded during the time of survey, but we are working closely with the community leaders and sister security agencies to gather information that would lead arrest of the perpetrators.
“We are sending warning to the criminals that are involving themselves in this illegal refinery that they should desist, because we will go after them,” he said. (GBN)
