The Air Component of Operation Delta Safe, under the Nigerian Air Force, recently obliterated three illegal refining sites in River State.
These sites housed seven overhead tanks cleverly hidden beneath dense mangrove vegetation.
The Director of Public Relations and Information for the NAF, Air Vice Marshal Edward Gabkwet, revealed this operation in a statement on Sunday.
He highlighted that approximately five kilometers downstream, four boats transporting suspected illegally refined products were detected and subsequently destroyed.
Gabkwet mentioned that during their return, the air crew identified a speedboat carrying five suspected oil thieves attempting to escape the area.
Upon spotting the aircraft, the suspects accelerated, trying to evade capture. The air component pursued the speedboat, eventually leading to their apprehension by ground troops stationed in the blocking zone.
In a related success in the Northwest, a tip-off revealed terrorists hiding in Dandunu after stealing cattle from the Kuchi-Kapana area in Munya LGA of Niger State.
The statement noted that the NAF deployed air assets to survey the region, resulting in the interception of terrorists on nine motorcycles escorting the stolen cattle.
The aircraft, Gabkwet said, engaged and eliminated most of the motorcycle-riding terrorists during several passes.
Gabkwet commended the local residents for their timely intelligence reports, which were crucial in recovering the rustled cattle and restoring the affected communities’ livelihoods.
He emphasized that as oil thieves and economic saboteurs become more sophisticated, the Nigerian Air Force and other security agencies have also adapted their strategies to stay ahead and effectively counter these activities.
The statement read in part, “In Wilcourt, a riverine settlement within the creeks of Niger Delta region becoming notorious for illegal oil activities, the Air Component of Operation Delta Safe sighted and destroyed 3 Illegal Refining Sites (IRS) with a total number of 7 overhead tanks concealed under thick mangrove vegetation.
“About 5 Km downstream, 4 boats were also sighted moving southwards with suspected illegally refined products. The boats were subsequently attacked and destroyed. While heading back, the crew spotted a speed boat with 5 suspected oil thieves fleeing the area.
“Upon sighting the aircraft, the criminals increased speed, hoping to evade the aircraft. The air component then pursued the speedboat until they arrived at the blocking zone of ground troops where they were arrested.
“Similar successes were recorded in the Northwest following a tip-off of terrorists hibernating at Dandunu after rustling cattle from communities around the Kuchi-Kapana axis in Munya LGA of Niger State.
“The NAF subsequently deployed its air assets to scan the area which led to the interception of the terrorists on 9 motorcycles leading the rustled cattle. In several passes, the motorcycle-riding terrorists were struck by the aircraft, and most of them eliminated in the process.
“The feedback from locals around the location have so far been positive, with most of them being able to recover the rustled cattle and returning to their livelihoods.”
