The Nigerian Air Force (NAF) says airstrikes by the air component of Operation Delta Safe have destroyed 13 illegal refining sites.

In a statement on Sunday, NAF’s spokesman AVM Edward Gabkwet said 10 overhead tanks and several gallons of illegally refined products were destroyed in the operation.

He said the airstrikes were part of efforts to curtail activities of oil thieves and economic saboteurs engaged in illegal and nefarious acts of bursting oil pipelines and syphoning crude oil.

Mr Gabkwet said 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 along 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.

Mr Gabkwet said the crew also spotted a truck along 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 sighting the aircraft, the truck and the canoes were attacked and destroyed.

He said the crew continued its patrol over the Trans Niger Pipeline from Rumuekpe-Nkpoku to Bonny.

“The patrol team covered End Point, Bodo trunk line, Point, Small line attachment, Nkpoku-New Ebubu Trunkline, and Rumuekpe-Nkpoku line with no unusual activity observed.

“The Chief of the Air Staff, Air Marshal Hasan Abubakar, has commended the Air Component for its commitment to diminishing the activities of oil thieves in the Niger Delta Region,” he said. 

(NAN)