By Faith Anisiobi, The Sight News
The Nigerian Navy, in collaboration with the Nigerian Army, has intercepted two vehicles conveying approximately 8,500 litres of products suspected to be illegally refined petroleum products along the Ejemekuru–Obudi-Agwa axis of Imo State.
The operation, conducted on August 21, 2026, by personnel of Naval Base Oguta and the Nigerian Army, resulted in the interception of a tipper truck and a Toyota Hiace bus loaded with about 150 bags of the suspected illegally refined petroleum products.
Three suspects were arrested during the operation, while some occupants of the second vehicle fled the scene, abandoning the vehicle.
The Nigerian Navy, in a statement signed by the Director of Naval Information, Navy Captain Abiodun Folorunsho, said the arrested suspects, vehicles and recovered products had been taken into custody for further investigation and necessary action in line with established procedures.
The Navy said the operation demonstrated the effectiveness of sustained inter-service cooperation and intelligence-led security operations in disrupting the illegal movement of petroleum products and denying criminal elements access to established routes for economic crimes.
It reaffirmed its commitment to strengthening collaboration with the Nigerian Army and other security agencies to combat crude oil theft, illegal refining and the illicit movement of petroleum products, while protecting the nation’s critical economic interests.
