By Joy Odor
The Nigerian Air Force (NAF) has informed that in the last two months, over 30 illegal oil refining sites in Cawthorne Channel and Bille, located in Degema Local Government Area of Rivers State was destroyed by the Land, Maritime and Air Components of Operation Delta Safe.
This was contained in a press statement made available for newsmen on Sunday by the Director of Public Relations and Information Nigerian Air Force, Air Commodore Edward Gabkwet.
The statement noted that Cawthorne Channel and Bille have accounted for the majority of oil theft and illegal oil refining activities.
According to the statement, Air strikes 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.
” 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 15 September 2023.
“Subsequently, the sites were destroyed. Similar air strikes were also conducted at Bille on 16 September 2023 and in the early hours of 17 September 2023.
“There, 3 illegal oil refining sites with storage tanks and reservoirs were destroyed. 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” it said.
NAF therefore underscores the successful air strikes by Air Component of Operation Delta Safe that 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.
The statement assured that the efforts will be sustained in the locations and others until oil thieves and their accomplices desist from their illegal activities.
