The Air Component of Operation Delta Safe has destroyed more than 30 illegal oil refineries in the previous two months in attacks near Cawthorne Channel and Bille in the Degema Local Government Area of Rivers. Abuja, Sept. 17, 2023 (NAN).
This was announced in a statement released on Sunday in Abuja by Air Commodore Edward Gabkwet, the NAF’s director of public relations and information.
According to Gabkwet, the airstrikes intensified efforts to prevent oil thieves and owners of illegal oil refineries from damaging pipelines and operating their facilities in an unsustainable manner.
He said that four active illicit refining stations with underground reservoirs and surface storage tanks believed to be holding illegally refined products were destroyed during Friday’s airstrikes at Cawthorne Channel.
He claims that similar airstrikes were also carried out at Bille on Saturday and early Sunday, destroying three illegal oil refinery sites together with their storage tanks and reservoirs.
“A Cotonou boat believed to be syphoning crude oil from a flow station was engaged in numerous passes and destroyed in one of the spots.
“Cawthorne Channel and Bille have been responsible for the majority of oil theft and illegal oil refining activities in Rivers State during the past two months.
The Land, Maritime, and Air Components of Operation Delta Safe have destroyed over 30 illicit oil refining facilities in these two areas during this time.
The statement continued, “These efforts will be maintained in these places and others until oil thieves and their allies cease from their unlawful activities.” (NAN)
