The Nigerian Air Force (NAF)’s Air Component of Operation Delta Safe has executed air strikes, obliterating six illegal oil refining sites near Opu Arugbana in Degema, Rivers State.
The precision strikes carried out on December 23, 2023, targeted and destroyed these active illegal sites located within an 80-meter radius.
A statement from NAF spokesman, Air Commodore Edward Gabkwet, noted that the operation was a strategic effort to curb unauthorized oil refining activities and discourage criminals from further engaging in these illegal practices.
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 State.
”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.”
