By Nurat Uthman
The Air component of Operation Delta Safe (OPDS) has successfully destroyed three illegal refining sites in Rivers State and three militant/pirate camps in Cross River State through several airstrikes.
This information was relayed by Air Commodore Edward Gabkwet, the NAF Director of Public Relations and Information, in a statement released in Abuja on Sunday.
According to Gabkwet, these airstrikes were carried out as part of ongoing efforts to combat the activities of terrorists, militants, and other criminal elements that aim to destabilize the country and cause harm to its peaceful citizens.
The airstrikes took place on August 27, targeting illegal refining sites located in Cawthorne Channels, Bille, and Gogokori in the Degema local government area of Rivers State.
Gabkwet explained that these sites were identified as illegal refining facilities before being targeted.
Additionally, in Gogokori, a Cotonou boat loaded with illegally refined products and heading towards open waters was also engaged and destroyed.
Similar strikes were conducted on August 25 at Idama in the Akuku‐toru local government area and Omoma in the Degema local government area of Rivers State.
These strikes were carried out based on intelligence indicating refining activities at these locations.
Gabkwet stated that the reservoirs at these locations were successfully engaged, destroyed, and set ablaze.
Furthermore, on August 25, the air component attacked identified militant/pirate camps in Cross River State.
These camps included Big Joe’s Camp, Sunny’s Camp, Davids’ Camp in the Bakassi local government area, and Amos Camps in the Calabar South local government area.
The NAF spokesperson confirmed that the airstrikes were authorized after verifying that the locations were occupied by criminals and their activities.
Gabkwet mentioned that the strikes caused pandemonium, with several kidnapped victims seen escaping. Some of the militants attempting to flee through their escape routes were apprehended.
Additionally, in one of the suspected kidnappers’ camps, a lone structure believed to be holding kidnapped victims with armed men present was targeted using onboard aircraft guns.
” Furthermore, in the Northeast, strikes were conducted on 25 August at Chinene, a persistent terrorists’ hideout in Mandara mountains which has been struck on several occasions in the past.
“ The air component, having observed the area to host a gathering of terrorists and their activities continually, struck the location with several terrorists neutralized while others fled for their lives.
He appealed that the NAF, alongside other security agencies, remained focused on undertaking their assigned tasks.
He, therefore, called on Nigerians to see themselves as part of the solution to these challenges through the provision of actionable information to security agencies.
