The Nigerian Airforce on Friday, said its Air Component of Operation Delta Safe, carried out reconnaissance missions along the Kolo Creek trunkline and Soku Sambarth lines and destroyed Canoes and illegal sites at Obenibokiri in Rivers State.
Air Vice Marshal Edward Gabkwet, Director of Public Relations and Information Nigerian Air Force in a statement on Friday, said the crew scanned the Right of Way of the pipeline with no sign of breach observed.
According to him, midway along the line, a leak was observed with some persons suspected to be staff of an oil company attempting to fix the leakage but the team while extending the patrol towards the end of the line revealed no sign of illegal activities.
It was stated said the aircraft proceeded to Soku-Sambarth, identified Soku Gas station, and carried out a further scan of the general environment with no sign of illegal activities observed, but on their return journey, the crew sighted 6 canoes loaded with suspected stolen oil products, which were subsequently destroyed.
“Flying overhead Obenibokiri, a settlement about 15 Km away from Port Harcourt, the crew spotted 8 active Illegal Refining Sites with overhead tanks and one with over 300 piled up sacks containing suspected stolen oil products. These were all effectively destroyed.” It further said.