The Nigerian Navy, has arrested two bunkering suspects and destroyed two boats belonging to the suspects in Ondo State.
Navy Capt. Danjuma Ndanusa, the Commanding Officer, Nigerian Navy Forward Operation Base (FOB), told journalists on Tuesday in Igbokoda that the destruction of the seizures was to forestall heinous crimes.
He said 338 jerrycans and some quantities of adulterated Automotive Gas Oil also known as diesel, was also seized from the suspects during patrol on the Igbokoda coastal-line, Ilaje Local Government Area of the state.
Navy Capt. Ndanusa said that the bunkering suspects in their large numbers, fled into the creeks on sighting the Navy patrol gun boats.
He said two of the suspects were apprehended and handed-over to the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps for onward prosecution.
Ndanusa warned criminals in the area to desist from criminal activities and illegal businesses on the coastal area of the state, as there would be no hiding place for them.
According to him, the Nigerian Navy have vowed to resist every attempt by criminals and their illegal businesses to thrive on the Nigerian coastal lines especially in Ondo State.
“Our personnel are on the alert and combat ready to forestall bunkering, illegal refining of crude oil and all criminal activities inimical to the development and sovereignty of the country.
“The bunkering suspects fled into the creeks sighting our patrol team but two of them were arrested and will be handed over to the NSCDC for onward prosecution.
“We have also destroyed the suspects’ two boats, 338 jerry cans and quantities of illegally refined diesel,” he said.
The naval officer also lauded the Naval High Command in Abuja and Lagos for their intelligence support for the personnel to be combat ready; to fish out criminals from the coastal areas.
He, however, urged government at all levels to create job opportunities for teeming youths in the Niger-Delta to reduce various criminal activities in the area.
The Navy recently paraded nine bunkering suspects, 92 drums of adulterated Premium Motor Spirit (PMS) also known as petrol, and handed them over to the Okitipupa Command of the NSCDC.
