“Fuel thieves targeting pipelines in Lagos were thwarted by the Nigerian Navy Ship (NNS) BEECROFT,” announced Commodore Kolawole Oguntuga, the Commander of NNS BEECROFT. In a statement conveyed by Sub.-Lt. Happiness Collins, Oguntuga disclosed that the siphoning of petrol from an NNPCL pipeline at Atlas Cove, Lagos, was successfully disrupted on Wednesday.
This operation was carried out in collaboration with troops from “Operation AWATSE.” The thieves had set up hoses and suction pumps connected to vandalised sections of the pipeline to pilfer petrol. NNPCL was promptly informed, leading to repairs on the damaged parts of the pipeline.
Oguntuga emphasized that ongoing efforts were in place to detect and rectify potential vulnerabilities along the pipeline, ensuring a comprehensive strategy to prevent future illegal activities. He underlined the significant threat posed by economic saboteurs to the availability of petroleum products and the nation’s economic stability.
The NNS Beecroft, formerly known as HMS Melfort, is a Nigerian Navy vessel. It is a River-class offshore patrol vessel that was originally built for the Royal Navy in the United Kingdom. The vessel was commissioned into the Nigerian Navy in 2007 and was renamed NNS Beecroft in honour of Captain David Hart Dyke Beecroft, a British Royal Navy officer who played a significant role in establishing the Nigerian Navy during the colonial era.
NNS Beecroft is used for various maritime security and patrol missions, including safeguarding Nigeria’s territorial waters, protecting offshore oil and gas installations, and conducting search and rescue operations. It is one of several vessels in the Nigerian Navy’s fleet, contributing to the country’s maritime security efforts.
