By Linus Aleke

The Nigerian Air Force (NAF), said, the accurate airstrikes by the Air Component of Operation Delta Safe (OPDS), has destroyed three boats, used by oil thieves to siphon crude oil in the creeks of Niger Delta.

The Service also revealed that the crew equally observed an active illegal refining site with tanks and reservoirs loaded with suspected illegal refined products, about four miles South-east of Idama, around Port Harcourt, in Rivers State, which was subsequently attacked and destroyed.

Director of Public Relations and Information, Nigerian Air Force, Air Commodore Edward Gabkwet, in a statement, on Monday, said, the air strikes became necessary after three boats were sighted tapping crude oil from a pipeline.

According to the statement, “These are not the best of times for oil thieves and their accomplices in the Niger Delta Region of Nigeria as the Air Component of Operation Delta Safe (OPDS) continue to strike at the heart of their activities. One of such operations occurred on Saturday 5 August 2023 at about 4 Nautical Miles South-East of Bille, a riverine area located west of Bonny Island and South of Port Harcourt, in Rivers State”.

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The NAF spokesperson said, the air strikes against these economic saboteurs will be sustained until they desist from their acts of thievery and economic sabotage.

The Chief of the Air Staff, Air Marshal Hasan Abubakar, has since directed all air component commanders nationwide to ensure they team up with other security agencies as they sustain air strikes on all criminal elements in the country.

He said the days of treating criminal elements in the country with kids’ gloves is over, stressing, “We must continue on this trajectory until we bring all of them to their knees”.