About 13 illegal refining stations in the South-South have been discovered and destroyed by the Nigerian military during an air attack operation.
During coordinated air raid operations in its area of responsibility, the Nigerian Air Force (NAF) claimed on Sunday that the Air Component of Joint Task Force South South, Operation Delta Safe, has found and demolished no fewer than 13 illicit refining plants in the states of Rivers, Bayelsa, and Imo.
The DHQ announced last week that during anti-oil theft operations, its forces stationed in the Niger Delta found 1,099,860 liters of stolen crude oil, 1,101,700 liters of unlawfully refined AGO, 27350 liters of DPK, and 150 liters of PMS.
Additionally, it was disclosed that within the week under review by Joint Task Force South South, Operation Delta Safe, an estimated amount of One Billion, Eight Hundred and Sixty Million, One Hundred and Fifty One Thousand Seven Hundred Naira was equally denied to the oil thieves. Additionally, no fewer than 105 illegal refining sites were discovered and deactivated.
Additionally, on June 17, 2024, around 80 terrorists who were hibernating at a hidden place in Gidan Kare Village of Ruwan Godiya Ward in Faskare Local Government Area (LGA) of Katsina State were killed by airstrikes carried out by the Air Component of Operation Hadarin Daji.
A statement by Director of Public Relations and Information, Nigerian Air Force, AVM Edward Gabkwet, also disclosed that seven Cotonou boats, and five J-5 buses, used by economic saboteurs to siphon crude oil were also uncovered and dismantled through price airstrikes.
“Between 18-22 June 2024, the Air Component of Operation Delta Safe has destroyed 13 illegal refining sites and 7 Cotonou boats as well as dispersed 5 x J-5 buses attempting to siphon suspected crude oil products from surface tanks. Some of the illegal sites were discovered near Imo River on 18 June 2024 with 7 overhead tanks, which were subsequently destroyed while several suspected bunkerers were seen fleeing. Air strikes were also extended to Wilcourt in Rivers State on 19 June 2024 after an illegal site and canoe filled with illegally refined products, as well as some gun boats, were seen. Similarly, following Intelligence of some illegal refining sites located about 6km from Tunu in Bayelsa State, the aircrew proceeded to the location to identify and destroy the site, a task carried out with the utmost precision,” Gabkwet said.
The NAF Spokesperson further disclosed that on June 22, 2024, the crew noticed five J5 busses along the Imo River, likely converted into small tankers, trying to siphon off illegally processed materials. This led to the execution of another large air strike.
“Amazed at this change of tactics by these economic saboteurs, the crew did not hesitate to immediately destroy the illegal refining sites feeding the buses.The J5 buses were later seen dispersed with some taking cover under trees to avoid detection,” the statement further revealed.
Gabkwet noted that air strikes against economic saboteurs and oil thieves have continued to record the expected outcomes majorly due to improved intelligence, enhanced air to ground coordination, and most importantly, due to NAF’s improved agility and resilience.
He promised to keep up these actions until the saboteurs’ activities are minimized to the lowest possible level.
