The Nigerian Air Force has taken decisive action against crude oil theft in Rivers State, announcing the destruction of five Cotonou boats and six illegal refining sites at Cawthorne Channel and Alakri.
Air Commodore Edward Gabkwet, the Director of Public Relations and Information for the Nigerian Air Force, revealed this information in a statement on Tuesday, detailing the operations carried out by the air component of Operation Delta Safe.
The air operations were executed between November 12 and 13, prompted by intelligence reports.
Gabkwet stated, “To combat oil theft and checkmate the activities of economic saboteurs in the Niger Delta region, the air component of Operation Delta Safe has, in the last three days, intensified its air operations, destroying six illegal refining sites and five Cotonou boats in Rivers State.”
On November 12, three active illegal refining sites and two Cotonou boats siphoning crude oil were targeted at Cawthorne Channel and Alakri.
Similar strikes were conducted at Krakama in Rivers State on three Cotonou boats suspected of transporting illegally refined products.
Continuing the efforts on November 13, NAF aircraft targeted sites at Dariama village in Rivers State following intelligence on illegal refining activities.
The operation revealed three illegal refining sites with tanks, pipes, pumping machines, and Cotonou boats loaded with suspected illegally refined products, all of which were engaged and subsequently destroyed.
