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Akinwande Soji-Ojo
Operatives of the Nigerian Navy Ship (NNS) Beecroft have uncovered a 400,000-litre illegal depot, where diesel was stored, at a residential apartment in Lekki area of Lagos State
Commander of the NNS Beecroft,Rafiu Oladejo, disclosed this In a statement issued by Hussaini Ibrahim, spokesperson of NNS Beecroft.
He said NNS Beecroft received credible intelligence about suspicious activities taking place at the residence.
According to Oladejo, five suspects were arrested at 3, Silverbird Road, Ilasan, Lekki, for managing an illegal fuel depot in a residential area.
He gave the name of the leader of the syndicate as Ahmed Ariyo.
The Commander said the illegal fuel depot contains eight storage tanks of 50,000 litres capacity each, laden with about 57,000 litres of diesel; a tanker laden with about 7,000 litres of diesel and a bus of 30 jerrycans with about 1,500 litres.
Oladejo stated that the total product discovered in the apartment is about 65,000 litres of diesel, estimated to cost over N89 million.
He said the eight storage tanks, if filled to capacity, will contain 400,000 litres of diesel, worth about N500 million.
The Commander said preliminary investigation revealed that the suspects got the products through pipeline vandalism and illegal vendors along the coastline.
The suspects and products have been handed over to the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC) for further investigation and possible prosecution.
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