Nigerian Navy Discovers Massive Diesel Bunker with 400,000-Litre Capacity in Lekki Residence
In a recent operation, the Nigerian Navy Ship (NNS) BEECROFT revealed the presence of an illicit Automated Gas Oil (AGO) bunker, boasting a capacity of 400,000 liters, situated within a private compound in the Lekki region of Lagos.
The uncovering of this bunker came following intelligence gathered by the Naval Base, indicating suspicious activity of a gas tanker at Elegushi Beach.
Handing over both the suspects involved and the confiscated products to the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC) at Silver Bird Road, Ilasun in Lekki, Commodore Rafiu Taye Oladejo, the Commander of NNS BEECROFT, disclosed that the suspects were operating under an unregistered entity named Ahmed Ariyo Sons Nigeria Limited, within a residential area.
Expressing concern over the reckless disregard for public safety and the ramifications on the economy and security, Oladejo emphasized the magnitude of the operation. He revealed that the compound harbored eight tanks, each capable of storing 50,000 liters of AGO, totaling 57,000 liters, alongside a truck and a white TM bus containing additional quantities of the illegal fuel. The estimated market value of the confiscated AGO amounted to N89,000,000.
Further investigation led the authorities to discover 400 jerry cans and 13 drums concealed within another TM bus and scattered around the compound.
The initial tip-off came when intelligence indicated a white bus loading petroleum products at Elegushi Beach. Despite swift action from the Navy’s Quick Response team, the suspects managed to evade capture. However, persistent surveillance eventually led to the exposure of the clandestine fuel depot within the residential premises.
The collective worth of the storage facilities, if fully utilized, is estimated at N500 million. When questioned about potential accomplices, Oladejo underscored the collaborative effort required to orchestrate such operations and reiterated the Navy’s commitment to combating oil theft, in line with the directives of the Chief of Naval Staff, Vice Admiral Emmanuel Ikechukwu Ogalla, to eradicate such criminal activities from the maritime domain.
