The Nigerian Air Force, under the Air Component of Operation Delta Safe, has carried out successful air strikes that led to the destruction of 13 illegal refining sites.
In a statement, the Director of Public Relations and Information of the Air Force, Air Vice Marshal Edward Gabkwet said operations took place along the Imo River, near Obuzor and Okoloma, targeting illegal activities related to the siphoning of crude oil and the illicit refining of its products.
During the operation, hailed as one of the most successful, the Air Force discovered several active illegal refining sites that had been strategically set up in difficult-to-access terrain. The discovery led to the immediate deployment of air strikes that effectively neutralized these sites.
A total of 13 illegal refining sites were destroyed, along with 10 overhead tanks that were connected to reservoirs used for storing the illegally refined products.
Air Marshal Hasan Abubakar, the Chief of the Air Staff, has commended the Air Component of Operation Delta Safe for their commitment and effectiveness in the ongoing campaign against oil theft and illegal refining in the Niger Delta. He noted that these efforts are crucial in safeguarding Nigeria’s economic resources and maintaining the integrity of the nation’s oil infrastructure.