The Nigerian Navy announced on Sunday that it intercepted over 13,800 liters of petrol and 71 bags of foreign rice in multiple operations targeting smugglers along the Badagry creeks.
In a statement provided to the press, the Commanding Officer of the Forward Operating Base (FOB) Badagry, Navy Captain Oyeleye Omotayo, explained that the successful operations were the result of actionable intelligence.
“These seizures were made following targeted operations launched based on reliable intelligence,” Omotayo said. “Between March 7 and 14, 2025, we were able to intercept contraband goods, stopping them from reaching their intended destinations.”
Captain Omotayo further elaborated on the operation that took place on March 14, describing how naval forces were able to thwart smugglers trying to evade capture. “On the morning of March 14, a focused operation was launched at 2:54 am to disrupt smuggling activities,” he said. “Although the smugglers initially evaded our water patrol, they were eventually intercepted by our land patrol unit at 3:30 am.”
During this operation, Omotayo said the navy officers discovered 71 bags of foreign rice that were being smuggled. “The smugglers abandoned their goods and fled upon seeing our patrol at 4:22 am,” he revealed. “The seized rice has been brought back to the base for further investigation and action.”
In another operation on the same day, Omotayo mentioned that intelligence operatives tipped off the navy about a large stockpile of petrol. “At 12:15 am on March 14, our intelligence operatives alerted us to petrol stored at a beach near Bollington in the Badagry creeks,” he said. “The fuel was intended for illegal export via wooden boats across Nigeria’s territorial waters into the Benin Republic.”
The navy’s search of the site uncovered “234 jerry cans, each holding 25 liters of petrol, totaling approximately 5,850 liters,” Omotayo confirmed. “These were promptly seized and moved to our base for proper handling.”
In addition to the March 14 operation, the navy also carried out several other seizures throughout the region. “We also confiscated an additional 7,770 liters of petrol in other operations conducted across the Badagry communities,” Omotayo said.
He further confirmed that “7,950 liters of petrol were seized from two filling stations and Tongeji Island on March 7 and 8. The appropriate legal procedures have been followed for the disposal of these items.”
These operations, according to Omotayo, are part of the ongoing effort by the Nigerian Navy to curb smuggling activities in the area. “We remain committed to preventing illegal goods from crossing our borders, and we will continue to act on actionable intelligence to disrupt smuggling operations,” he concluded.
