The Nigerian Air Force (NAF) has announced that it has carried out air strikes against illegal oil refineries and boats in Rivers State, as part of its Operation Delta Safe.
The air strikes, which took place on 27 and 28 November 2023, destroyed an illegal refining site (IRS) with equipment and reservoirs loaded with illegal products at Yellow Island near Bonny Island, as well as two Cotonou boats sighted at Arugbana near Okrika. The NAF also said that it observed several other destroyed and abandoned IRS in the area, which were previously targeted by the Air Component of the operation.
The NAF Spokesperson, Air Commodore Edward Gabkwet, confirmed the air strikes in a statement on Wednesday, saying that they were aimed at curbing the activities of economic saboteurs and oil thieves in South-south Nigeria.
He said that the air strikes were conducted by aircraft of the NAF under Operation Delta Safe, which is a joint military operation involving the Nigerian Army, Navy and Air Force, as well as other security agencies.
According to the statement, the air strikes on 28 November 2023 destroyed two Cotonou boats that were seen at Arugbana near Okrika, which is a town in Rivers State known for its oil and gas industry. The statement also said that on the same day, the aircraft destroyed an active IRS with equipment and reservoirs loaded with illegal products at Yellow Island near Bonny Island, which is an island in the Niger Delta region that hosts a major export terminal for crude oil.
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The statement further said that similar air strikes were carried out on 27 November 2023 at a location southeast of Abisse in Rivers State, where an active IRS was concealed with reservoirs and a storage tank suspected to contain illegally refined products.
The statement said that the reservoirs and storage tanks were engaged and destroyed by the aircraft. Another location northwest of Omama was also struck, as it was observed to contain items suspected to contain stolen crude oil in objects tied in sacks.
The statement added that subsequent reconnaissance flights over Cawthorne Channel, Bille, Dariama, Okrika, Bonny Island and Idama revealed a retinue of destroyed and abandoned IRS, which were hitherto destroyed by the Air Component of Operation Delta Safe.
The statement said that these sites remained inactive, indicating that the measures being employed by the operation may be yielding the expected outcome.
The statement concluded by saying that the Air Component of Operation Delta Safe would continue to carry out its assigned duties until the activities of the saboteurs were completely halted or reduced to the barest minimum. The statement also urged the public to support the operation by providing credible information on the activities and locations of the illegal oil refineries and boats.