Troops of 81 Division Nigerian Army (NA) in a joint operation conducted by Operation SWIFT RESPONSE have intercepted 148 jerrycans of fuel at Imeko Afon local government area in Ogun.

This was contained in a statement signed by the 81 Division spokesman Olaniyi Osoba on Friday.

The statement said the task force, comprising other security agencies, was inaugurated in 2019 by President Muhammadu Buhari’s regime to checkmate activities of smugglers around border communities across Nigeria.

It disclosed that investigations conducted by the task force earlier in July, discovered two filling stations siphoning petrol into jerrycans at Imeko.

“The troops deployed for anti-smuggling operations on patrol with the customs personnel and other security agencies during routine patrol observed that all the filling stations at Imeko Afon LGA were closed,” the task force explained.

According to the statement, further investigation revealed that “most of the stations closed during the day were active at night and on sighting the troop, the suspected fuel attendant and buyers fled the scene.”

The statement said, “Accordingly, a search behind the stations and its surroundings led to the recovery of filled jerrycans already loaded into vehicles and ready to be smuggled out.” 

At the end of the operation, 203 jerricans (30 litres each) were confiscated out of which 148 were filled with petrol.

“Additionally, one Dane gun, three generators, four vehicles and six motorcycles were discovered hidden in the bush path,” added the task force.

The statement said the operation was well coordinated in a professional manner and items seized had been handed to the Nigeria Customs Service. 

(NAN)