PRESS RELEASE
The Nigerian Air Force (NAF) has intensified aerial operations in the Niger Delta region, achieving significant milestones in the ongoing campaign against crude oil theft and the protection of critical national infrastructure. Operating under the 115 Special Operations Group (115 SOG), which hosts the Air Component of Operation DELTA SAFE (OPDS), the NAF continues to conduct high-tempo missions aimed at dismantling illegal refining activities and disrupting the logistics networks of criminal elements.
From January to May 2025, the Air Component of OPDS carried out more than 173 missions and 265 sorties, totaling approximately 270 flying hours. These missions, conducted both independently and in support of joint military operations, spanned key oil-producing states including Ondo, Edo, Delta, Bayelsa, Rivers, Akwa Ibom, and Cross River.
During this period, airstrikes successfully destroyed over 100 illegal refining sites, 53 boats, 74 cooking tanks, 2 reservoirs, and several vehicles used for transporting stolen crude. These efforts have significantly weakened the operational capabilities of oil thieves and vandals across major hotspots such as Buguma, Imo River, Port Harcourt, Okrika, Egbema/Ohaji, and along the Trans Niger Pipeline Right of Way.
These operations align with broader national objectives to combat militancy, mitigate environmental degradation caused by illicit refining, and protect vital oil and gas infrastructure — the cornerstone of Nigeria’s economy.
While the Nigerian Air Force remains committed to fostering civil-military relations and supporting community development in the region, it reaffirms that sustained kinetic operations are crucial to dismantling entrenched criminal networks. The ongoing air campaign reflects NAF’s unwavering commitment to national security and economic resilience, ensuring the continued safety and productivity of Nigeria’s oil-rich Niger Delta.
Air Commodore Ehimen Ejodame
Director of Public Relations and Information
Headquarters, Nigerian Air Force
25 May 2025
