BY: USMAN SANI, KADUNA
Nogerian Airforce says Air Component of Operation Delta Safe have over the weekend, ramped up efforts at denying oil thieves and operators of illegal oil refining sites, the opportunity to burst pipelines, operate their illegal oil refineries sites while damaging the environment.
According to Director of Public Relations and Information of the Force, Air Commodore Edward Gabkwet says airstrikes conducted on Cawthorne channel and Bille, both located in Degema Local Government Area of Rivers State, proved successful as 7 illegal refining sites were identified and destroyed.
The statement explains that in Cawthorne Channel, 4 active illegal refining sites with dug out reservoirs and surface storage tanks suspected to be containing illegal refined products were sighted on the 15th of this month, and subsequently destroyed.
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Similar airstrikes were also conducted at Bille on the 16th of this month and in the early hours of today, where 3 illegal oil refining sites with storage tanks and reservoirs were destroyed.
Additionally, in one of the sites, a Cotonou boat suspected to be siphoning crude oil from a flow station was engaged in several passes and destroyed.
The statement notes that in the last two months, Cawthorne Channel and Bille have accounted for the majority of oil theft and illegal oil refining activities in Rivers State.
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It points out that within the period, over 30 illegal oil refining sites in these two locations have been destroyed by the land, maritime and air components of Operation Delta Safe.
It assures that efforts will be sustained in these locations and others until oil thieves and their accomplices desist from their illegal activities.