NAF destroys illegal oil refining sites along Imo River Bank.

The Nigerian Air Force has made giant strides in the fight against crude oil theft as its Air Component of Operation Delta Safe destroyed two illegal refining sites.
situated along the banks of the Imo River.

The Director of NAF Public Relations and Information, Air Vice Marshal Edward Gabkwet, said in a statement e-mailed to Persecondnews on Sunday that the strikes were conducted barely hours after the Chief of the Air Staff, Air Marshal Hasan Abubakar, conferred with Governor Alex Otti of Abia State on the setting up of a Nigerian Air Force (NAF) base in the state.

Gabkwet said “Operation Delta Safe’s” aerial operation on Saturday destroyed the economic saboteurs’ surface tanks and reservoirs.

He said the intensified air operations should be seen as proactive measures to safeguard the economic interests of the nation and deter criminal elements involved in oil theft.

The statement reads: “The illegal sites were located near Obiaku and in close proximity to the Imo/Abia/Rivers States borders.

“They consisted of two tanks and a reservoir in one location, and three tanks and two reservoirs in another location along the Imo River bank.”

“Observing that these sites were active, authorization was sought and received for air strikes on the targets.

“Subsequently, air strikes by the Air Component of Operation Delta Safe were conducted, which destroyed the two sites as well as the surface tanks and reservoirs.

“Building on these successes, air operations under Operation Delta Safe will be intensified, especially within the areas of interest in efforts to curtail the activities of criminal elements.

“The successes recorded in destroying these IRS bring to fore the necessity of a NAF Base in Abia State, which Governor Otti and Air Marshal Abubakar both agreed was long overdue.

“The NAF’s continued efforts in all ongoing operations, yet again, underscore its commitment to maintaining aerial dominance over the Nigerian skies while collaborating with surface forces towards the safety and security of Nigeria and its citizenry.”