In a decisive move against unauthorized oil refining activities, Nigerian Air Force’s Air Component of Operation Delta Safe conducted precision air strikes, obliterating six illegal oil refining sites near Opu Arugbana in Degema, Rivers.
The operation, executed on December 23, 2023, targeted and destroyed active illegal sites located within an 80-meter radius.
According to a statement from NAF spokesperson, Air Commodore Edward Gabkwet, the strategic effort aims to curb unauthorized oil refining activities and discourage criminals from engaging in these illegal practices.
The illegal sites, clustered within a radius of about 80 meters and located approximately 6 nautical miles south of Opu Arugbana, were confirmed to be active before the authorization was obtained to destroy them.
Part of the statement read, ”In continuation of efforts to rid the Niger Delta Region of activities of oil thieves and oil pipeline vandals, air strikes by the Air Component of Operation Delta Safe, on 23 December 2023, destroyed 6 illegal oil refining sites in Opu Arugbana in Degema Local Government Area of Rivers.
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”The illegal sites were sighted clustered within a radius of about 80 metres at a location about 6 nautical miles south of Opu Arugbana.
”Having been confirmed to be active, authorization was obtained to destroy the 6 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 Chief of Air Staff, Air Marshal Hassan Abubakar, who spent the Christmas day with troops in the Northeast 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.”