The Defence Headquarters has confirmed the destruction of illegal oil refining site in Abacheke,in Ohaji/Egbema area of Imo State.
Director of Defence Media Operations Major General Musa Danmadami made the confirmation on Thursday during the bi-weekly news conference. He said that the military is out to clear economic saboteurs in the country.
He said that Operation DELTA SAFE conducted series of air mission operations within the joint operation area of the zone and destroyed illegal oil refining site in Abacheke.
According to him, “Notably, on 7 November 2022, the air component conducted air interdiction operation at Abacheke, an identified illegal refining site where significant human activities were confirmed.”
“Consequently, the target was engaged and destroyed. The air strike led to an inferno that lasted for almost 24hrs, he said.
Similar air interdictions were conducted by the air component of Operation HADIN KAI in the North East of Nigeria where Boko Haram/Islamic State of West Africa are fighting Nigerians.
He said NAF have continued with series of air strikes to clear the remnants of terrorists and insurgent as well as denying them freedom of movement within the North East region.
“Accordingly, between November 4 and 5, 2022, the air component conducted air interdiction operation at Belowa and Ngwuri Gana in Abadan and Bama Local Government Areas of Borno State respectively.
“Precisely, on November 5, 2022, an air interdiction operation was conducted at Belowa in Abadan Local Government Area of Borno State.
He said the air strike followed intelligence on the convergence of some Boko Haram Terrorist/Islamic State of West Africa Province leaders and their fighters from surrounding area for a meeting on a planned attacks on a likely location within the general area.
Consequently, the location was bombarded; after which 2 vehicles observed to be conveying about 13 injured terrorists that survived the initial strike to another hideout were equally struck, neutralizing the terrorists.
Feedback after the strikes revealed that Mallam Ali Kwaya, who is a key member of the Islamic State of West Africa Province Shura Council and Mallam Bukar Mainoka were among those neutralized in the strikes.
Similar, air interdiction was carried out same day at Ngwuri Gana in Bama Local Government Area of Borno State, based on intelligence of the convergence of a large group of Islamic State of West Africa Province insurgents in 15 trucks who were armed with assorted weapons, arriving from different locations within Bama Local Government Area of Borno State.
He said that the aim of ISWAP was to attack an unspecified location within the general area, accordingly the location was bombarded and feedback revealed that scored of the terrorists were neutralized, and all their structures and vehicles engulfed in fire
In a related development, the air component of Operation HADARIN DAJI conducted air interdiction operation on November 14, 2022 at a notorious terrorists kingpin, Alhaji Ganai enclave at Kidandan forest in Giwa Local Government Area of Kaduna State.
Following intelligence report on the activities of Alhaji Ganai and member of his terrorist gang within the general area of operation. Subsequently, the location was engaged and bombarded. The aftermath of the strike revealed that many terrorists were neutralized including Yellow Kano and 7 other notorious terrorists.