He said the items recovered from the suspects were two motorcycles, daggers, machetes, assorted charms, gunpowder and five mobile phones.
Mr Zubairu appreciated the support provided by the public.
According to him, on sighting the naval team, the suspects manning the boat fled into the creeks in an accompanying speedboat, evading arrest.
He added that approximately 8,660 litres of stolen crude oil were seized during the operation.
The commanding officer, Aliyu Abdullahi, said during the donation that the gesture was to promote waterway safety.
The Gazette gathered that the troops could not repel the insurgents’ attack and fled the area.
Mr Okoloagu attributed success of the operations to credible information, in line with the ongoing Operation DELTA SANITY II.
A source said the smugglers were about to load the bags of foreign parboiled rice into their awaiting vehicles when the navy operatives swept down on them.
Mr Osuman said the 109 bags of foreign rice were being handed over to J.I. Ohagwu, the officer in charge of operations at Seme Customs.
