From Molly Kilete, Abuja
The Nigerian Air Force (NAF) said its air component under Operation Delta Safe, has destroyed an illegal refining site situated Southwest of Bille, a coastal town in Degema Local Government Area (LGA) of Rivers State.
NAF Director, Public Relations and Information, Air Commodore Edward Gabkwet, who made the disclosure, said the air component also bombarded a well-known IPOB camp in Orsumoghu in Ihiala Local Government Area of Anambra State.
Gabkwet said the bombardment took place following an intelligence report, which revealed that IPOB elements in makeshift camps were sighted preparatory to an impending attack on innocent citizens of the state.
The NAF spokesman, in a statement made available to Daily Sun, said: “Air power’s ubiquitous tendencies through its speed, range and flexibility, again, came to fore as various Nigerian Air Force (NAF) aircraft simultaneously decimated criminal elements operating in various parts of the country. In the Niger Delta region, air strikes were targeted at the nefarious activities of oil thieves, which has continued to affect the general environment of the region, as well as the oil output of the nation.
“As a follow up to previous air missions undertaken, NAF aircraft under Operation Delta Safe on August 11, 2023, conducted air interdiction missions at an illegal refining site situated Southwest of Bille, a coastal town in Degema Local Government Area (LGA) of Rivers State. Same day, air strikes were also extended to a well-known IPOB Camp in Orsumoghu in Ihiala LGA of Anambra State. Intelligence had revealed that IPOB elements, in makeshift camps, were sighted preparatory to an impending attack on innocent citizens when they needed to effectively engage them. The strike was subsequently carried and deemed successful.
“Similar air strikes were also carried out the same day by the air component of Operation Hadin Kai at a location about 1.5km East of Arra, a once-deserted terrorists’ hideout near Sambisa Forest. Earlier reconnaissance on the location had revealed terrorists massing up at the location, which had, hitherto, been cleared of terrorists’ activities about six months ago.
“There were strong indications that these terrorists had fled from locations around Lake Chad after the areas came under intense bombardment by NAF aircraft. The location, east of Arra, was consequently attacked to decimate the terrorists and deny them settling at the location, and using the same as a staging point. Footage of the aftermath of the strike later revealed it was successful as several terrorists were neutralised and structures destroyed, while the few surviving terrorists were seen scampering away in disarray. At the end, their ability to attack friendly forces as well as innocent civilians were degraded.”