The Nigerian Air Force has intercepted fleeing oil thieves in a speedboat and destroyed illegal oil refining sites in Wilcourt, Rivers State.

This operation is part of ongoing efforts to combat sophisticated oil theft and economic sabotage in the Niger Delta region.

According to the Director of Public Relations and Information for the Nigerian Air Force, Air Vice Marshal Edward Gabkwet, “The NAF and other security agencies have re-strategized to checkmate the activities of oil thieves and be ahead of their game.”

In Wilcourt, a riverine settlement known for illegal oil activities, the Air Component of Operation Delta Safe identified and destroyed three illegal refining sites. These sites had seven overhead tanks concealed under thick mangrove vegetation. Additionally, four boats carrying suspected illegally refined products were spotted and destroyed.

Gabkwet explained, “About 5 km downstream, 4 boats were also sighted moving southwards with suspected illegally refined products. The boats were subsequently attacked and destroyed.”

While returning from the operation, the NAF crew spotted a speedboat with five suspected oil thieves trying to escape. “Upon sighting the aircraft, the criminals increased speed, hoping to evade the aircraft. The air component pursued the speedboat until they arrived at the blocking zone of ground troops where they were arrested,” Gabkwet said.

In a separate operation in Munya LGA, Niger State, the NAF intercepted terrorists following a tip-off. The terrorists were rustling cattle from communities around the Kuchi-Kapana axis and were spotted on motorcycles leading the stolen cattle. The NAF deployed air assets to scan the area and struck the terrorists, eliminating most of them.

Gabkwet noted, “The feedback from locals around the location has been positive, with most of them being able to recover the rustled cattle and return to their livelihoods.”