NIGERIAN TRIBUNE
The Nigerian Air Force (NAF) says airstrikes by the Air Component of Operation Delta Safe has destroyed 13 illegal refining sites, the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) has reported.
This is according to a statement by NAF’s Director, Public Relations and Information, AVM Edward Gabkwet, on Sunday, in Abuja.
Gabkwet said that 10 overhead tanks and several gallons of illegally refined products were also destroyed in the operation.
He said that the airstrikes were part of efforts to curtail activities of oil thieves and economic saboteurs engaged in bursting oil pipelines and siphoning crude oil.
He said that the air component had increased its rate of patrol, especially within the Niger Delta region, with the aim of locating illegal oil refining sites and destroying them.
“In arguably one of its most successful operations conducted on the Imo River, near Obuzor and Okoloma, about 13 active illegal refining sites were discovered.
“These sites were subsequently destroyed after the crew employed the weapons on board the aircraft.
“Several overhead tanks connected to reservoirs, as well as numerous gallons were also destroyed in the process.
“In all, 13 illegal sites, 10 overhead tanks and several gallons of illegally refined products were effectively destroyed,” he said.
Gabkwet further said that the crew also spotted a truck on the riverbank, with four canoes, loading illegal products into the truck.
According to him, after a thorough scan of the area and observing the criminals dispersed in disarray upon siting the aircraft, the truck as well as the canoes, were attacked and destroyed.
