NAF: over 70 illegal refineries bombed in three months

The Chief of the Air Staff, Air Marshal Hasan Abubakar, has said the the military Operation Delta Safe had in the last three months destroyed more than 70 illegal refining sites and 80 overhead tanks.

Air Marshal Abubakar made the disclosure on Wednesday, July 31, 2024, while hosting the National Coordinator, Messrs New Guard Security and Consulting Limited, Maj. Gen. Jamil Sarham (retd.), and his team at the NAF headquarters in Abuja.

Mr. Abubakar mentioned that oil theft and pipeline damage have caused a big drop in crude oil production.

He said that it has also led to a huge loss of money for the country.

He added that the illegal activities have caused serious environmental problems for agriculture.

Pollution now fills the air and contaminates the waterways, harming fish and other aquatic life.

He said the armed forces were assigned to stop oil theft and pipeline damage in the Niger Delta, helping to increase oil production in the area.

NAF incursions

“Over the past year, the NAF has conducted 463 sorties in 560 flight hours.

“And expended 175,000 liters of Jet A-1 fuel in air operations over the Niger Delta region.

“In bolstering these efforts, some newly inducted platforms have recently been deployed to the region and beyond.

“This is to enable the NAF to cover more grounds as it liaises with other security agencies in degrading the activities of these criminals in the region.”

The Chief of Air Staff praised the team’s strong military experience in carrying out their job dutifully.

He expressed hope that their cooperation with other security agencies would help tackle the problem of crude oil theft more effectively.

He said the visit helped build a strong base for better teamwork between the NAF and the company.

Base which could lead to good changes for Nigeria’s national defense and security.

He said the visit was a key step in improving the security of Nigeria’s oil infrastructure.

And very vital in tackling the economic and environmental problems caused by oil theft.

Illegal refining in Nigeria

Illegal refining sites in Nigeria, particularly in the Niger Delta region, have been a significant issue due to their environmental and economic impacts.

These sites are often hidden in remote areas and involve the illicit refining of stolen crude oil.

The process is dangerous and environmentally damaging, leading to pollution of waterways and air.

Recently, the Nigerian Air Force (NAF) has intensified efforts to combat this issue.

Over the past three months, NAF airstrikes have destroyed more than 70 illegal refining sites.

These operations are part of broader efforts to curb oil theft and pipeline vandalism, which have severely affected Nigeria’s crude oil production and revenue.

The Nigerian Navy has also uncovered massive illegal refining camps, capable of refining millions of liters of crude oil per day.

These efforts are crucial in addressing the environmental degradation and economic losses caused by illegal refining activities.

About NAF

The Nigerian Air Force, established on April 18, 1964, serves as the air branch of the Nigerian Armed Forces.

It is one of the largest air forces in Africa, with approximately 18,000 active personnel and a fleet of around 147 aircraft.

The NAF’s primary mission is to ensure the integrity of Nigeria’s airspace and to provide air support for national defense and security.

The NAF has actively participated in peacekeeping missions and counter-terrorism efforts, especially targeting Boko Haram.

The force operates a range of aircraft, including fighter jets, reconnaissance planes, transport aircraft, and attack helicopters.

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