The Nigerian Navy’s Forward Operating Base in Badagry has intercepted 13,800 litres of petrol and 71 bags of foreign rice in a series of anti-smuggling operations along the Badagry creeks.
In a statement issued on Sunday, the Commanding Officer of FOB Badagry, Navy Captain Oyeleye Omotayo, confirmed that the seizures took place between March 7 and 14.
He attributed the successful operations to intelligence gathering and swift naval intervention.
“In continuation of the fight against smuggling within our Area of Operation in Badagry, a targeted operation was launched on Friday, March 14, at 2:54 a.m.,” Omotayo stated.
He explained that while smugglers initially evaded naval patrols on water, they were later intercepted on land.
“The smugglers initially escaped our water patrol but were intercepted by our land patrol unit around 3:30 a.m. During the operation, 71 bags of foreign rice were found being smuggled. The items were seized, while the suspects fled upon sighting our patrol at 4:22 a.m.,” he added.
Omotayo also revealed that, on the same day, intelligence reports indicated that petrol was being stockpiled near a beach in Bollington, Badagry, for smuggling into Benin Republic using wooden boats.
“Upon searching the area, our operatives discovered 234 jerry cans of 25 litres each, totaling about 5,850 litres of petrol. The fuel was promptly confiscated and moved to the base,” he said.
Further operations across Badagry communities led to the seizure of an additional 7,770 litres of petrol, while 7,950 litres confiscated from two filling stations and Tongeji Island on March 7 and 8 had already been processed in line with legal procedures.
Omotayo assured that the Nigerian Navy remains committed to tackling smuggling and safeguarding the nation’s territorial waters.
