At, least, six illegal oil refining sites in Opu Arugbana in Degema Local Government Area of Rivers have been destroyed.

According to the Nigerian Air Force, NAF, the Air Component of Operation Delta Safe, on Dec. 23, destroyed the illegal refining sites.

This is contained in a statement by Air Commodore Edward Gabkwet, the Director, Public Relations and Information of NAF, on Tuesday in Abuja.

Gabkwet said the air strikes were in continuation of efforts to rid the Niger Delta region of activities of oil thieves and oil pipeline vandals.

According to him, the illegal sites were sighted clustered within a radius of about 80 metres at a location about 6 nautical miles south of Opu Arugbana.

He said having been confirmed to be active, authorisation was obtained to destroy the six sites, thus discouraging the criminals from continuing with their acts of illegality.

“In spite of the festive season, air operations against criminals in the Niger Delta and other parts of the country continue unabated.”

Meanwhile, the Chief of Air Staff, Air Marshal Hassan Abubakar, has hailed the efforts of the Air Component Commanders in all theatres of operation.

Abubakar, who spent Christmas day with troops in the Northeast and is currently in Katsina to fete troops, charged them not to rest until criminal activities were reduced to the barest minimum.