The Air Component of Operation Delta Safe has destroyed two Illegal Refining Sites, IRS, situated along the banks of Imo River.
The airstrikes were conducted on June 7, 2024, barely hours after the Chief of the Air Staff, Air Marshal Hasan Abubakar conferred with Governor Alex Otti of Abia State on the setting up of a Nigerian Air Force, NAF, Base in Abia State.
A statement by NAF’s Director of Public Relations and Information, Air Vice Marshal Edward Gabkwet noted that the illegal sites, located near Obiaku and in close proximity to the Imo/Abia/Rivers States borders consisted of two tanks and a reservoir in one location and three tanks and two reservoirs in another location along the Imo River bank.
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AVM Gabkwet said ISR revealed that these sites were active, hence “authorization was sought and received for air strikes on the targets.”
“Subsequently, air strikes by the Air Component of Operation Delta Safe were conducted, which destroyed the 2 sites as well as the surface tanks and reservoirs,” he said.
The NAF’s spokesman further said the air operations will be intensified, especially within the areas of interest in efforts at curtailing the activities of criminal elements.
“The successes recorded in destroying these IRS brings to fore the necessity of a NAF Base in Abia State, which Governor Otti and Air Marshal Abubakar both agreed was long overdue,” he added.
