Operatives of the Nigerian Navy have uncovered an abandoned oil well used by suspects for criminal activities in Oke-Agor-Isekun, an island community in Ogun State which is also close to Ondo State.
The Bureau Newspaper earnt that the oil well, long abandoned by authorities, had attracted the attention of oil thieves and other criminals in the community.
According to the Naval Base in Epe, Lagos State, under Navy Captain Solomon Ohunenese, the oil well in Ogun community was busted on Saturday.
The military command reportedly deployed two gunboats of about 30 personnel, including two officers and 28 ratings, as well as five officials from the Ogun State government to the hideout.
“The team embarked on the operation, which took approximately 4 hours by boat from the base to the remote island of Oke-Agor-Isekun.
“Upon arrival, the naval team immediately cordoned off the general area to establish security and prevent unauthorised access.
“This paved the way for officials from the Ogun State government to conduct a detailed assessment of the abandoned oil well, evaluating both the extent of potential environmental damage and the risk posed by illegal activities,” the naval command said.
“On Saturday, 11 January 2025, Naval Base Epe (NB Epe) received credible intelligence from the Ogun State government regarding an abandoned oil well situated near the boundary between Ogun and Ondo States.
“Acting promptly on this report, NB Epe, in collaboration with officials from the Ogun State Government, conducted a joint visit to Oke-Agor-Isekun, the site of the abandoned oil well. Oke-Agor-Isekun, an island situated approximately 5 kilometers from Ondo State boundary, has been identified as a hotspot for criminal activities,” the command added.