In an effort to combat oil theft and economic sabotage, the Nigerian Air Force (NAF) has announced the destruction of 13 illegal refining sites and ten overhead tanks.
According to a statement from Air Vice Marshal Edward Gabkwet, the Director of Public Relations and Information for the Air Force, operations conducted along the Imo River near Obuzor and Okoloma revealed several active illegal refining sites exploiting the challenging terrain to carry out their activities.
The statement detailed that the Nigerian Air Force used aircraft weapons to destroy 13 illegal refining sites, along with ten overhead tanks connected to reservoirs, and numerous gallons of stolen oil.
Additionally, the statement noted that during an extended patrol downstream, the crew spotted a six-tyre tipper truck on the riverbank, with four canoes loading illegal products into the truck. After a thorough scan of the area and observing that the criminals scattered upon seeing the aircraft, the truck and canoes were subsequently attacked and destroyed.
PRESS RELEASE
13 ILLEGAL REFINING SITES, 10 OVERHEAD TANKS, TIPPER TRUCK DESTROYED BY AIR STRIKES NEAR OBUZOR AND OKOLOMA
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 require 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. 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.
Same day, while the crew extended their patrol down stream, they spotted a 6-tyre tipper truck along the riverbank with 4 canoes seen loading illegal products into the truck. After a thorough scan of the area and observing the criminals dispersed in disarray upon siting 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.
The Chief of the Air Staff, Air Marshal Hasan Abubakar, has since commended the Air Component for their commitment and resolve to diminish the activities of oil thieves in the Niger Delta Region.
Edward Gabkwet
Air Vice Marshal
Director of Public Relations and Information
Nigerian Air Force
11 August 2024