Favour Ozioma Ogbodo
The Nigeria Air Force (NAF) has destroyed six illegal refineries in Rivers State.
This was disclosed by its Public Relations and Information Officer, Edward Gabkwet, in a statement on Tuesday.
He said the illegal site were within reach of approximately 80-metre radius situated approximately 6 nautical miles south of Opu Arugbana in Degema Local Government Area.
Gabkwet explained that the operation took place on December 23, describing it as a safe air operation in an effort to rid the Niger Delta Region of oil theft and pipe line vandalism.
“Having been confirmed to be active, authorisation was obtained to destroy the 6 sites, thus discouraging the criminals from continuing with their acts of illegality,” the statement read.
“Despite the festive season, air operations against criminals in the Niger Delta and other parts of the country continue unabated.
“The Chief of Air Staff, Air Marshal Hassan Abubakar, who spent the Christmas day with troops in the North-East and currently in Katsina State to fete troops of Operation Hadarin Daji, has commended the efforts of the Air Component Commanders in all the theatres of operation while calling on them not to rest until criminal activities are reduced to the barest minimum,” it added.
