Illegal refining sites, overhead tanks, others destroyed by NAF airstrikes

The Nigerian Air Force announced on Sunday that its Air Component of Operation Delta Safe had destroyed 13 illicit refining stations, 10 overhead tanks, and many gallons of illegally processed products near Obizor, Okoloma.

According to Air Vice Marshal Edward Gabkwet, Director of Public Relations and Information, the success came as a result of the Air Force's enhanced patrol rate, particularly in the Niger Delta region.

"In arguably one of its most successful operations conducted along the Imo River near Obuzor and Okoloma, several active illegal refining sites were discovered to be taking advantage of the difficult terrain to perpetrate their illegalities,” the statement said.

"These sites, about 13 in number, were subsequently destroyed after the crew employed the weapons on board the aircraft. Several overhead tanks connected to reservoirs as well as numerous gallons were also destroyed in the process.

“Same day, while the crew extended their patrol downstream, they spotted a 6-tyre tipper truck along the riverbank with 4 canoes seen loading illegal products into the truck. After a thorough scan of the area and observing the criminals dispersed in disarray upon sighting the aircraft, the truck as well as the canoes, were attacked and destroyed.

“The crew then continued their patrol over the Trans Niger Pipeline from Rumuekpe-Nkpoku to Bonny, which included the following points: End Point, Bodo trunk line, Point, Small line attachment, Nkpoku-New Ebubu Trunkline and Rumuekpe-Nkpoku line with no unusual activity observed.”

In a related report, the Nigerian Air Force strikes have destroyed a suspected Improvised Explosive Device, IED, factory at Grazah in the Mandara mountains of Borno State.

The operation led by the air component of the army Operation Hadin Kai, OPHK, followed an intelligence report linking the recent attacks and killing of innocent civilians in the state using IEDs.

Air Vice Marshal Edward Gabkwet, the NAF spokesperson disclosed this in a statement on Thursday, adding that the factory was suspected to have been relocated from Gwoza to Timbuktu Triangle in Sambisa Forest and finally at the current location the strikes targeted.

The statement partly reads: "This was sequel to intelligence revealing the sighting of a possible IED factory and storage area for other logistics. For some time now, this IED factory was suspected to have been relocated, first from Gwoza to Timbuktu Triangle in Sambisa Forest and finally berthing at Grazah in the Mandara Hills. 

"The frequent relocation of the IED factory has been attributed to the enormous firepower on terrorists’ enclaves by the combined efforts of the entire security apparatus of Operation Hadin Kai. 

"The IED factory location at Grazah had been under surveillance for weeks with various installations observed and activities of armed terrorists in the area found to be consistent with those protecting a strategic location.

"Additionally, 2-gun trucks were sighted tucked under a large tree near the suspected IED factory. 

"These findings thus necessitated the need for an air strike on the location in order to destroy the suspected IED factory and neutralize the terrorists. Consequently, the targets were acquired and effectively destroyed. 

"The aftermath of the air strikes followed by a thick cloud of smoke was indicative that the suspected IED factory, as well as the 2-gun trucks, were effectively destroyed, while several terrorists were neutralized."