NAF destroys six illegal refineries in Rivers

The Nigerian Air Force (NAF) has destroyed six illegal oil refining outfits at Opu Arugbana in Degema LGA of Rivers State.

According to Edward Gabkwet, a spokesperson for NAF, the ongoing battle against oil looters and vandals of oil pipelines continues despite the advent of the holiday season.

Gabkwet, in a statement on Tuesday, said: “The illegal sites were sighted clustered within a radius of about 80 metres at a location about 6 nautical miles south of Opu Arugbana.”

He said: 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 six illegal oil refining sites in Opu Arugbana in Degema Local Government Area of Rivers state.

“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.”

Persecond News had reported that the Minister of State for Defence, Mr Bello Matawalle, said the Federal Government has achieved a lot in the fight against oil theft.

He said the country was hopeful of producing 1.9 million barrels of crude oil per day before the end of the year.

“Before now, due to oil theft activities in the Niger Delta region, oil production dropped to about one million barrels per day.”