The Nigerian Air Force (NAF) has continued with its operations against shutting down illegal oil refining sites in Rivers State amid the festivities of the season, News About Nigeria reports.
The Director of Public Relations and Information, Nigerian Air Force, Air Commodore Edward Gabkwet, who disclosed this in a statement on Tuesday, revealed that the air component of Operation Delta Safe has destroyed six illegal oil refining sites in the Opu Arugbana, Degema Local Government Area of Rivers State.
According to him, the operation was to rid the Niger Delta Region of the activities of oil thieves and oil pipeline vandals and discourage criminals from continuing with their acts of illegality.
He noted that the operation was carried out after permission to destroy the illegal sites was obtained, which, according to him, were sighted clustered within a radius of about 80 metres at a location about six nautical miles south of Opu Arugbana.
The Director of Public Relations and Information further assured Nigerians that the service would continue air raids against oil thieves and other criminals across the country despite the festive period.
“Despite the festive season, air operations against criminals in the Niger Delta and other parts of the country continue unabated,” he said.
The Chief of Air Staff, Air Marshal Hassan Abubakar, has, however, applauded the doggedness and commitment of the force in seeing that an end is brought to illegal mining sites in the Niger Delta region.
He also appealed to them not to relent in the fight and to keep up with the good work until criminal activities are reduced to the barest minimum.
