PUNCH reports that the Nigerian air force says it has destroyed five Cotonou boats caught siphoning crude oil at Cawthorne Channel and Alakri in Rivers State. Commodore Edward Gabkwet who is the Director of Public Relations and Information disclosed that six active illegal refining sites in Rivers State were also bombed by the air component of Operation Delta Safe. He said the operation was conducted between November 12 and 13 following an intelligence report. In an effort to combat oil theft and checkmate the activities of economic saboteurs in the Niger Delta region, the air component intensified its air operations destroying six illegal refining sites when intelligence revealed three illegal refining sites and two Cotonou boat  siphoning crude from pipelines at Cawthorne Channel and Alakri. Similar strike was also done at krakama on the same day.

On the 13^th, NAF aircraft struck some sites at Dariama Village in Rivers State following intelligence reports about illegal refining activities. The three IRS with tanks, pipes and pumping machines as well as Cotonou boats loaded with illegally refined products were destroyed.

CREDITS :PUNCH