The Nigerian Navy has foiled an attempt by oil thieves to exploit an abandoned well at Oke-Agor-Isekun, an island near the Ogun and Ondo states boundary.
The commander in charge of the Naval Base in the Epe area of Lagos State, Navy Captain Solomon Ohunenese, disclosed this in a statement on Wednesday.
According to him, the operation was carried out by Naval officers from the base after receiving intelligence about the abandoned oil well.
The statement added that the intelligence revealed that the oil well, long abandoned by authorities, had attracted the attention of oil thieves and other criminal elements.
The statement read in part, “On Saturday, January 11, 2025, Naval Base Epe received credible intelligence from the Ogun State Government regarding an abandoned oil well situated near the boundary between Ogun and Ondo States. Acting promptly on this report, NB Epe, in collaboration with officials from the Ogun State Government, conducted a joint visit to Oke-Agor-Isekun, the site of the abandoned oil well. Oke-Agor-Isekun, an island situated approximately 5 kilometres from the Ondo State boundary, has been identified as a hotspot for criminal activities.
“Further intelligence revealed that the oil well, long abandoned by authorities, has attracted the attention of oil thieves and other criminal elements. The consequences of these activities are significant and highly detrimental to the economic prosperity of the country. The theft of crude oil not only deprives the government of vital revenue that could otherwise be channelled into socio-economic development but also results in environmental degradation due to oil spills caused by unregulated siphoning activities. These spills pose serious ecological risks, particularly to the surrounding communities and the broader environment at large.”
Acting on the intelligence, Ohunenese noted that its personnel were immediately deployed to the site, while the oil well had been cordoned off to prevent the oil thieves from carrying out their illegal activities.
