The Nigerian Navy Ship Beecroft found an unauthorized fuel storage with about 6,5000 liters of Automative Gasoline Oil in Lekki, Lagos State.
The storage was found at No 3 SilverBird Road, Ilasun Lekki, on Tuesday, April 2, 2024, and five suspects were detained.
As per a statement released on Tuesday, the head of the group, Ahmed Ariyo, along with four others were apprehended in a private residence where they conducted their illegal activities.
The Commander NNS Beecroft, Commodore Rafiu Oladejo, was quoted in the statement as saying that the total products found are estimated to be about N89 million based on the current price of AGO N1,350.
The statement stated, “The Nigerian Navy Ship Neecroft has uncovered an unauthorized fuel storage and arrested five suspects at No 3 SilverBird Road, Ilasun Lekki, on Tuesday, April 2, 2024. The leader of the group, Ahmed Ariyo, along with four others was arrested in a private residence where they conduct their illegal activities.
“The discovery of the unauthorized fuel storage was due to credible intelligence received by NNS Beecroft on suspicious activities taking place at Elegushi beach. This led to the deployment of NNS Beecroft Quick Response Team to the location, resulting in the discovery and arrest of the suspects.
“The unauthorized fuel storage contains eight storage tanks of 50,000 liters capacity each, filled with about 57,000 liters of AGO; a tanker filled with about 7,000 liters; a bus with 30 jerry cans filled with about 1,500 liters. The total product discovered is about 65,000 liters of AGO, estimated to be about N89 million based on the current price of AGO N1,350.
“When estimating the total capacity of the storage facility found in the residence, the eight storage tanks if filled to capacity with AGO will be about 400,000 liters, which is approximately N500 million.”
The commodore also revealed that the suspects likely obtained the products through “pipeline vandalism, illegal vendors at sea as well as other illegal means along the coastline.
“Commodore Oladejo restated that NNS BEECROFT will not give up in its efforts to pursue oil thieves and other criminal elements as directed by the Chief of Naval Staff, Vice Admiral Emmanuel Ikechukwu, ”
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