Nigerian Navy Intercepts Illegal Oil and Rescues Kidnap Victim

The Nigerian Navy successfully intercepted an illegal consignment of petroleum products in Rivers State while also rescuing a kidnapped victim, Mr. Benedict Ez, who had been abducted on March 23, 2026, in Aganya community, Bonny Local Government Area.

The operation was coordinated by Captain Abiodun Folorunsho, Director of Naval Information, and involved the deployment of naval patrols following credible intelligence. Mr.

Ez was recovered near Opuoma waterside after his captors abandoned him due to intensified naval operations. Concurrently, the Nigerian Navy's ship, NN Pathfinder, intercepted two wooden boats carrying approximately 15,000 liters of suspected illegally refined automotive gas oil.

The perpetrators abandoned the boats and fled into the surrounding creeks. This operation reflects the Navy's commitment to sustaining maritime security and combating illegal oil bunkering activities, as emphasized by the Chief of Naval Staff, Vice Admiral Idi Abba.