The Nigerian Air Force has destroyed several illegal oil refineries in oil-rich Rivers state as part of efforts to curb the activities of oil thieves in the country who siphon off thousands of barrels of crude oil daily.
"The air component of Operation Delta Safe (OPDS) carried out air interdiction missions on some illegal refining sites located at Cawthorne Channels, Bille and Gogokori in Degema Local Government Area of Rivers State on 27 August, 2023," the force said in a statement on Sunday.
In particular, in Gogokori, the force targeted and destroyed a boat loaded with illegal refined products that was heading for open waters.
Similar strikes were carried out in Idama, Akuku-toru, and Omoma in Degema following intelligence reports of refining activities in the two locations. According to the statement, active illegal refining sites with reservoirs suspected to contain refined products were sighted and subsequently attacked, destroyed and set ablaze.
The Nigerian military has been recently cracking down on oil thieves in the Niger Delta, burning ships carrying crude oil and small illegal refineries, usually located near rivers far away from local communities.
Illegal crude oil vessels previously seized by a private security firm hired by the state-owned Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation were also burned by authorities, with the crude oil remaining intact. Last month, the company intercepted a ship carrying 800,000 liters of allegedly stolen oil.
Earlier, a government delegation comprising representatives of security agencies and senior officials visited the Niger Delta region to inspect oil and gas facilities, including alleged illegal refineries and maritime oil theft facilities. Nigeria's National Security Adviser Nuhu Ribadu, who led the delegation, stated that the country loses 400,000 barrels of crude oil per day to local and foreign thieves despite government efforts to curb the illegal activities.