Through its Operation Water Guard, the Nigerian Navy has uncovered several illicit depots in Badagry and the areas bordering Benin and Nigeria. These depots had thousands of empty and loaded Jerry cans filled with Premium Motor Spirit.
Speaking to reporters on Thursday, Rear Admiral MB Hassan, Flag Officer Commanding of Western Naval Command and Commander of Joint Task Force Operation AWATSE, said that the NN’s use of air assets and electro-optic facilities on Wednesday afternoon led to the discovery of these numerous illegal depots.
The FOC further disclosed that unlawful liters containing PMS were found in households, schools, and recreation areas in the Badagry inland area, as well as adjacent creeks along the border between the Nigerian Republic and the Benin Republic.
He declared, “Operation Water Guard, launched by the Nigerian Navy a week ago to combat illicit activities, has yielded a breakthrough in a significant stride towards safeguarding Nigeria’s economic interests.” The operation, which made use of air assets and electro-optic facilities, found and demolished many depots where thousands of jerricans, both empty and packed with PMS, were piled up.After these illegal depots were discovered in the afternoon of November 15, 2023, in the Badagry inland area and surrounding creeks along the Nigeria-Benin Republic border, in the communities of Iyaafin and Itsalu
The NN men responded quickly and thoroughly, searching homes, schools, and recreation areas in these villages. They found an incredible amount of illegally stored petroleum products in addition to empty jerrycans intended for future product storage.
Concerned about the possible risks associated with these operations, Rear Admiral MB Hassan directed regulatory agencies to examine how gas stations in the local communities are run.
Along with promising to safely evacuate the seized goods, he also pledged to step up patrols in that area.
“I implore regulatory bodies to look into the functioning of gas stations in these areas as soon as possible. Such intervention is essential to stopping illicit activity and lowering the possibility of catastrophic fires that could have extremely harmful effects on human life.
“I can guarantee the public, though, that the seized goods will be securely removed, and that patrols will be stepped up to prevent any economic sabotage.
Under the district leadership of Vice Admiral EI Ogalla, Chief of the Naval Staff, “this operation underscores the Nigerian Navy’s steadfast commitment to maritime security and the eradication of illicit activities within the nation’s maritime domain for the economic prosperity of Nigeria,” the statement read.