Navy rescues three from capsized boat, recovers 63,290 litres of illegal fuel

The Nigerian Navy has rescued three passengers from a capsized boat along the Bennett River in Warri, Delta State, and recovered over 63,000 litres of suspected illegally refined petroleum products during separate operations under Operation Delta Sentinel.

The Navy’s Director of Information, Captain Abiodun Folorunsho, disclosed the developments on Monday in Abuja.

According to him, personnel of Nigerian Navy Ship (NNS) Delta carried out the rescue during a routine maritime security patrol aimed at ensuring safety on the nation’s waterways.

Folorunsho said the patrol team spotted distressed passengers and floating debris from a capsized boat, indicating an ongoing maritime emergency.

“Naval personnel immediately launched a search-and-rescue operation and successfully recovered the three victims, while also salvaging valuable items from the wreckage,” he said.

Preliminary investigations revealed that the boat capsized due to severe weather conditions and rough waves caused by a heavy rainstorm.

The rescued passengers were taken to the NNS Delta Sick Bay, where they received medical attention before being discharged after their condition stabilised.

Folorunsho noted that the successful operation highlights the Navy’s role not only as a maritime security force but also as a first responder during emergencies on the nation’s waterways.

He added that sustained naval patrols remain critical to enhancing maritime safety, protecting lives and providing timely assistance to waterway users in distress.

In a separate operation in Rivers State, the Navy recorded another breakthrough with the recovery of a large cache of suspected illegally refined Automotive Gas Oil (AGO) and the interception of a vehicle believed to be linked to an illicit fuel distribution network.

Folorunsho said personnel of Nigerian Navy Ship (NNS) SOROH acted on credible intelligence and deployed to the Okolomade Community area in Abua-Odual Local Government Area, where suspected illegal petroleum products were reportedly being moved through the Orashi Forest corridor.

During the operation, the team intercepted a silver Toyota Camry suspected of transporting illegally refined AGO.

A search of the vehicle led to the discovery of 17 sacks containing the suspected product. Further searches uncovered additional stockpiles concealed under thick vegetation at different locations within the forest.

According to the Navy spokesman, subsequent ground operations resulted in the recovery of 56 more sacks of suspected illegally refined AGO.

“In total, the operation led to the recovery of 73 sacks containing approximately 63,290 litres of suspected illegally refined AGO, as well as the vehicle believed to have been used for transportation,” he said.

Folorunsho explained that the discovery underscored the growing use of forest corridors and hidden storage facilities by criminal elements seeking to move illegally refined petroleum products into distribution channels.

He said the operation disrupted a critical segment of the illicit petroleum supply chain.

The recovered products were handled in line with existing regulations, while the intercepted vehicle was secured for further investigation.

Folorunsho reaffirmed the Navy’s commitment to intelligence-driven operations under Operation Delta Sentinel, aimed at combating crude oil theft, illegal refining and other forms of economic sabotage in the Niger Delta region.