Chiemelie Ezeobi
The import of the recently launched Operation WATER GUARD (OP WG), a maritime interdiction against smuggling of illicit products, was brought to the fore over the weekend, with the interception of large scale illegal bunkering activity at the Ibeju Lekki area of Lagos State.
Operatives of the Nigerian Naval Ship (NNS) BEECROFT, and the Maritime Component of Operation AWATSE, a joint taskforce against pipeline vandalism and crude oil theft, had not just intercepted the syndicate at Folu Village in Ibeju Lekki, , a town along the boundary between Lagos and Ogun States, but also seized 90 of such 250 litres drum filled with Premium Motor Spirit (PMS),
as well as an 18,000 litre oil tanker.
This is just as the navy said it would begin to employ force on unrepentant perpetrators and economic saboteurs, as well as illegal vessels, who are out to milk the nation of already dwindling resources.
Parading the seized products and the oil tanker on Monday, the Commander, NNS BEECROFT, Commodore Kolawole Oguntuga, said the success recorded was a decisive move against illicit activities threatening the integrity of Nigeria’s maritime environment.
He said: “Acting on credible intelligence received on November 11, 2023 by 3am, our patrol team was promptly deployed to the scene. Upon arrival, the perpetrators fled, and the patrol team uncovered hoses connected to pumping machines and Jerrycans siphoning Automotive Gas Oil (AGO) into an 18,000L truck .
“Swift and decisive action followed, with the confiscation of the equipment and the truck. These items are currently in the base for further investigation in line with standard procedures.
“The Nigerian Navy, under the leadership of Vice Admiral EI Ogalla, is committed to upholding maritime security and combating illicit activities that threaten the nation’s economic prosperity.”
Lamenting that the continuous theft of oil products will create shortage for Nigerians, Commodore Kolawole said it also has the potentials of triggering fire with catastrophic consequences on lives and property.
Warning perpetrators of this nefarious act, “particularly vessels that carry this product that try to compromise and give this product to these perpetrators to desist from this act, from now henceforth, apart from the fact that we are going to bring them to book, we might be tempted to use force which could also mean deactivating vessels that are found indulged in this kind of economic sabotage.”
On the OP WG, he said vessels assembled to carry out this operation are enormous, adding that they also have quick response teams stationed along the coast from Badagry down to Lekki.
“We are making the waterways unconducive for these perpetrators to have freedom of action based on intelligence as well and deploying the state of the art facility. I am talking about the Falcon Eye facility.
“Because of the yuletide season that is coming, we really want to stamp out this illegalities because probably we have been using kids gloves for these guys.
” We are going to change our modus operandi and deadly force will be applied. Maybe with this, it will send a strong message.
“I want to use this opportunity to appeal to parents and guardians to warn their children and their wards to avoid this kind of illicit behaviour because going forward, the Nigerian Navy and other security agencies will become very hard on them because we need to stop this.
On the overlapping function of OP WG and OP AWATSE, he said: “We are actually working together. Operation SECURED LINE is under the auspices of Operation AWATSE, which is a Defence Headquarters operation with the maritime, air and land component, OP Water Guard is a single service maritime operation.
“Of course our mandates are interwoven and there is synergy. So, all the security agencies are working together in order to ensure we put a stop to all these illegal activities in order to enhance economic prosperity of our dear nation.”
