The Nigerian Navy’s Forward Operating Base (FOB) in Badagry, Lagos State, has intercepted seven fibre boats transporting multiple bags of foreign parboiled rice along the Badagry–Porto-Novo creek.
According to naval sources in Badagry on Sunday, the operation was carried out by personnel of the FOB on Saturday as part of ongoing efforts to curb smuggling activities in the area.
Upon sighting naval patrol teams, several individuals aboard the vessels reportedly abandoned the boats and fled into the water. A number of persons were apprehended at the scene.
Preliminary reports suggest that those detained are low-level operatives described as “boat boys” who are allegedly engaged by smuggling networks to facilitate the transportation of contraband goods. Naval officials indicated that these individuals often act under the direction of more organised groups involved in illicit cross-border trade.
The seizure is part of broader maritime security operations conducted by the Nigerian Navy to combat smuggling and protect Nigeria’s economic interests, particularly in coastal and border communities prone to illegal activities.
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