Air strikes from Nigerian Air Force‘s component of Operation Delta Safe have destroyed Illegal Refining Sites (IRS) and barges in oil communities in Rivers state.
The communities were identified as Bille, Dariama, Elem Bekinkiri, Temakiri, Opumakiri and Degema.
A statement issued on Wednesday, March 27, by the Director of Public Relations and Information (DOPRI), Air Vice Marshal (AVM) Edward Gabkwet, said the air strikes were conducted on March 25 and 26.
The statement read: “At Bille, a barge filled with illegal refined products was observed meandering through the creeks and subsequently struck. At Dariama and Tumakiri, active illegal refining sites with reservoirs and cooking pots were identified to be active and subsequently engaged and destroyed. Illegal oil refining sites at Elem Bekinkiri and Opumakiri were, however, observed to consist of abandoned IRS.
“At Degema, several active illegal refining sites with reservoirs filled with illegally refined products were observed and engaged accordingly, setting them ablaze.
“It is pertinent to note that some of the illegal refining sites at Bille and Dariama have been destroyed in the past but have been reactivated. Accordingly, the NAF and other security agencies will continue to intensify efforts at discovering and disrupting the activities of the oil thieves operating in the region and beyond,” said Gabkwet.”
