Air Strikes Destroy Six Illegal Refineries in Niger Delta Region

Kingsley Nwezeh in Abuja

The Nigerian Air Force Headquarters said yesterday that air strikes conducted by its fighter planes destroyed six illegal refineries in the Niger Delta region.

It said the air interdiction was in continuation of efforts to rid the Niger Delta region of activities of oil thieves and oil pipeline vandals.

It said, in a statement that  air strikes by the Air Component of Operation Delta Safe, on 23 December 2023, destroyed six illegal oil refining sites in Opu Arugbana in Degema Local Government Area of Rivers State.

The statement said the illegal sites were sighted clustered within a radius of about 80 metres at a location about six nautical miles south of Opu Arugbana.

“Having been  confirmed to be active, authorisation was obtained to destroy the six sites thus discouraging the criminals from continuing with their acts of illegality.

“Despite the festive season, air operations against criminals in the Niger Delta and other parts of the country continue unabated”, the statement signed by the Spokesman of the Nigerian Air Force, Air Commodore Edward Gabkwet, who was newly promoted to the rank of Air Vice Marshal, said.

It said the Chief of the Air Staff,  Air Marshal Hassan Abubakar, who spent the Christmas day with troops in the North-east and currently in Katsina to fete troops of Operation Hadarin Daji, has commended the efforts of the air component commanders in all the theatres of operation while calling on them not to rest until criminal activities are reduced to the barest minimum.