NAF Destroys Illegal Refinery Filled With Stolen Crude In Rivers

Precision airstrikes conducted by the Air Component Operation Delta Safe destroyed illegal refining site filled with stolen crude products in Rivers State.

Military sources said the air strike, which was intelligence-driven, took out an illegal oil refining site situated at Dariama village, a locality about 20 Kilometers South west of Abonnema and 50 Kilometers South west of Port Harcourt, Rivers.

According to the source, the illegal  site was observed to be active with tanks and reservoirs filled with suspected illegal refined products.

The director of Public Relations and Information Air Cdre Edward Gabkwet said  air strike yet again reaffirmed the commitment of the armed forces towards eradicating the activities of oil thieves and illegal oil bunkerers.

Meanwhile, the chief of the air staff, Air Vice Marshal Hasan Abubakar has disclosed that the service is expecting delivery of 51 aircraft to boost counter-insurgency and counterterrorism operations in the country.

The CAS stated this while addressing officers and men during his maiden operational tour of NAF units in Makurdi, Benue State.

In a statement by the director of Public Relations and Information Air Cdre Edward Gabkwet, Abubakar said the acquisition of additional platforms would bolster training, air power employment and projection.

He listed the platforms being expected as;  two Agusta 109 Trekker Multi-role helicopters, two Beechcraft King Air 360, three Diamond DA-62 surveillance aircraft and 6 T-129 ATAK helicopters.

Other pending acquisitions include two CASA -295 medium airlift/surveillance aircraft, 12 AH-1Z attack helicopters and 24 M-346 attack aircraft.