Nigerian Air Force (NAF) aircraft have destroyed 13 illegal refining sites,10 overhead tanks and tipper trucks in Imo State.
A statement by the NAF spokesman AVM Edward Gabkwet said the aircraft deployed for operation Delta Safe conducted operations along the Imo River near Obuzor and Okoloma, where several active illegal refining sites were discovered to be taking advantage of the difficult terrain to perpetrate their illegalities.
He said the 13 sites were subsequently destroyed after the crew employed the weapons on board the aircraft.
Gabkwet stated that the aircraft also destroyed several overhead tanks connected to reservoirs as well as numerous gallons.
“In all 13 illegal sites, 10 overhead tanks and several gallons of illegally refined products were effectively destroyed,” he said.
According to the statement the crew on the same day extended their patrol down stream, where they spotted a 6-tyre tipper truck along the riverbank with four canoes seen loading illegal products into the truck.
“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,” he said.
He said the crew 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, commended the Air Component for its commitment and resolve to diminish the activities of oil thieves in the Niger Delta Region.
