The Nigerian Navy’s Forward Operating Base (FOB) in Badagry has intensified efforts to finally “drown” smuggling and other illegal activities on Nigeria’s waterways.
In a series of raids, naval operatives intercepted a large consignment of foreign rice, illegally siphoned petrol and rescued nine victims of human trafficking.
On Saturday, the navy intercepted 16 fibre boats loaded with 1,000 bags of smuggled foreign parboiled rice in the Yafin community, Badagry.
According to eyewitnesses, the smugglers had just begun offloading the rice onto waiting vehicles when naval operatives stormed the area.
A local resident of Yafin who spoke on condition of anonymity narrated the incident, saying, “They arrived early in the morning at around 7:30 a.m. Within minutes, their vehicles started arriving.”
“As they were about to offload, naval operatives swooped on them. Some of the smugglers jumped into the water, while others fled into hiding. The drivers in the waiting vehicles quickly drove off to evade arrest,” he narrated.
It was learnt that the navy successfully reloaded the seized rice onto the boats and transported it to their base. The operation was executed without any gunfire or violence.
In another operation, naval officers intercepted 3,375 litres of petrol at a filling station in Ajara, Badagry, on February 1.
According to sources, perpetrators were siphoning fuel into containers with the intent to smuggle it into the Republic of Benin.
However, they abandoned the operation and fled as soon as they sighted the navy patrol team.
The navy has reiterated commitment to preventing illegal fuel diversion, which has long been a challenge in border communities where smugglers take advantage of lower fuel prices in Nigeria to sell across the border at higher rates.
As part of its intensified surveillance operations, the Nigerian Navy also intercepted a speedboat carrying nine suspected victims of human trafficking on February 5.
The victims were en route to Porto-Novo, Benin Republic, when they were rescued at 2:30 p.m. in the Badagry/Porto-Novo Creek.
Authorities believe the victims were being transported for forced labor or exploitation.
They have since been taken into protective custody for further investigation and rehabilitation.
Reaffirming its dedication to maintaining security on the nation’s waterways, the NNS has urged members of the public to report suspicious activities while supporting efforts to curb smuggling, fuel diversion, and human trafficking across the border.
The latest operations underscore the navy’s resolve to tackle criminal activities threatening Nigeria’s economic and national security, officials said.
