NAF air strike destroys illegal petroleum products refinery near Dariama, Rivers State

Oredola Adeola

The Nigerian Airforce, through Operation Delta Safe, has conducted an air strike on an illegal oil refining site located at Dariama Village, which is approximately 20 kilometers southwest of Abonnema and 50 kilometers southwest of Port Harcourt in Rivers State, as part of military onslaught against crude oil thieves and their illegal refineries.

This was confirmed in a tweet obtained by EnergyDay Deji Adesogan, a Military Analyst Bureau Chief for DefenceTimesNG media.

Our correspondent was unable to reach Air Commodore Wapkerem Maigida, Director of Public Relations & Information (DOPRI), Nigerian Air Force (NAF), as he was unavailable at press time.

According to him, the illegal refinery came under the intense firepower of the Air Component of Operation Delta Safe, an action he claimed was intelligence-driven, adding that the illegal refinery was observed to be active, with tanks and reservoirs filled with suspected illegal refined products.

He further hinted that the air strike demonstrated the commitment of the Armed Forces of Nigeria to eradicating the activities of oil thieves and illegal oil bunkers. He noted that the operation was part of the ongoing efforts to combat illegal bunkering and criminal activities in the Niger Delta region.

EnergyDay however gathered that the destruction of illegal refineries and the apprehension of suspects involved in these activities are crucial steps towards curbing the illegal oil trade and protecting the environment.

This recent air strike is another significant blow to the operations of oil thieves and illegal oil bunkers in the region. The destruction of illegal refineries is an ongoing effort by the Nigerian Airforce and other security agencies to combat oil theft and protect the country’s oil infrastructure.