Illegal refining sites in Rivers State have been bombed by the air component of Operation Delta Safe, News About Nigeria reports.
According to the director of public relations and information for the Nigerian Air Force, Air Vice Marshal Edward Gabkwet, in a statement on Sunday, the military is out to destroy activities of economic sabotage.
He noted that seven illegal refining sites at different locations in Rivers State were destroyed, and a total of four boats loaded with illegally refined products heading southwards were bombed by military aircraft deployed for the operations.
He disclosed that the operations were conducted on April 12 and 13, 2024, in Idama, Ogbomkiri, Arugbana, Ivy Island, and Samkiri communities in River State.
“Air strikes by the Air Component of Operation Delta Safe have continued to record tremendous successes against the activities of economic saboteurs operating in the Niger Delta Region. Specifically, air strikes carried out from April 12 to 13, 2024, at some locations in Rivers State have significantly diminished the capabilities of oil thieves to continue in their nefarious efforts at bursting and syphoning crude oil.
“In the Idama community, for instance, an active illegal refining site was observed and engaged. Also, armed reconnaissance undertaken over Yellow Island and Cawthorne Channel revealed four boats loaded with illegally refined products heading southwards. The boats were subsequently engaged and destroyed,” he stated.
Gabkwet further noted that similar reconnaissance missions were conducted over Ogbomkiri, Arugbana, Ivy Island, and Samkiri. While in Ogbomkiri, an active illegal refining site was identified and engaged accordingly.
At Arugbana, oil thieves were attempting to establish an illegal refining site, but upon spotting the approaching aircraft, they quickly fled for safety.
Recall that a strike conducted by the air component of Operation Delta Safe in December 2023 destroyed six illegal oil refining sites at Opu Arugbana in the Degema Local Government Area of Rivers.
Also in March 2024, two illegal oil refining sites were destroyed at Krakama and Temakiri in the Degema local government area of Rivers State.
