The Nigerian air force has announced that it carried out a series of airstrikes against illegal oil refining sites situated in the Niger Delta region on a Sunday.
The air force revealed that it successfully dismantled several unauthorized facilities in Rivers state, an area known for its abundant oil reserves. Additionally, one of the strikes targeted a boat laden with crude oil that was en route to the open waters.
In recent times, Nigeria has been intensifying its crackdown on oil thieves operating in the Niger Delta. While the authorities have resorted to burning ships and small-scale illegal refineries, conducting aerial bombardments is a relatively uncommon approach.
Most of these unauthorized oil refineries are typically hidden away in the creeks, far from local communities. Despite their remote locations, environmentalists have strongly criticized the continued practice of burning these refineries due to the associated environmental impacts.
Interestingly, the timing of these airstrikes coincided with a visit by top defense and oil officials to Rivers state. During this visit, Nuhu Ribadu, Nigeria’s National Security Adviser, highlighted the alarming fact that the country was losing an estimated 400,000 barrels of crude oil on a daily basis due to the activities of oil thieves.
This staggering figure underscores the severity of the issue and the urgent need for further action.
In summary, the recent airstrikes carried out by the Nigerian air force against illegal oil refining sites in the Niger Delta region signal a heightened effort by the government to combat the ongoing issue of oil theft.
However, these actions continue to raise concerns from environmentalists, who decry the environmental consequences of burning these unauthorized refineries.
The context of the strikes, occurring alongside a high-level official visit, further emphasizes the gravity of the situation as Nigeria grapples with significant daily losses of crude oil.
