Mr Folorunsho said the operation denied criminals the use of the intercepted wooden boat for transporting illicit petroleum products.
The naval spokesman said the suspects were subsequently handed over to the SSS in line with established inter-agency cooperation protocols for further investigation and action.
According to him, the suspects fled on sighting naval personnel.
Mr Folorunsho said the site, located along the Alakiri River, contained about 10 dugout pits cumulatively laden with approximately 45,000 litres of stolen crude oil.
Mr Adams-Aliu said its personnel also recovered three rifles belonging to the policemen during the search and rescue operation.
The Minister of State for Defence, Bello Matawalle, said the decoration of the senior officers marked a significant milestone in their careers.
“On sighting Nigerian Navy’s patrol team gunboats, the suspected pirates fled into the bushes.’’
