The Nigerian Air Force said its operatives are stepping up efforts to curb the activities of oil thieves in the South-South region.
This is as the service stated that strikes from its aircraft destroyed 13 illegal refining sites during an operation conducted around the Imo River.
The Director of Public Relations and Information, Nigerian Air Force Air Vice Marshal, Edward Gabkwet, in a statement on Sunday, said the operators of the illegal refining sites took advantage of the difficult terrain to engage in their illegal activities.
Gabkwet added that notwithstanding, the illegal refining sites were destroyed by its personnel attached to Operation Delta Safe.
He said, “Even as efforts have been ramped up to curtail the activities of oil thieves and economic saboteurs in their illegal and nefarious acts of bursting oil pipelines and siphoning crude oil or its products, the rate at which illegal oil refining sites continue to spring up requires drastic measures. In line with this, the Air Component of Operation Delta Safe has 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, several active illegal refining sites were discovered to be taking advantage of the difficult terrain to perpetrate their illegalities.
“These sites, about 13 in number, were subsequently destroyed after the crew employed the weapons on board the aircraft. “
He said over 10 overhead tanks connected to reservoirs as well as numerous gallons were destroyed in the process.
Gabkwet said, “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.”
Gabkwet added that in another operation, the operatives spotted a six-tyre truck along the riverbank with four canoes loading illegal products into the truck.
He added, “After a thorough scan of the area and observing the criminals dispersed in disarray upon sighting the aircraft, the truck as well as the canoes were attacked and destroyed.
“The crew then continued their patrol over the Trans Niger Pipeline from Rumuekpe-Nkpoku to Bonny, which included the following points: End Point, Bodo trunk line, Point, Small line attachment, Nkpoku-New Ebubu Trunkline and Rumuekpe-Nkpoku line with no unusual activity observed.”
