The Nigerian Air Force (NAF) has revealed that it destroyed more than 100 illegal oil refining sites between January and May 2025 through intensified airstrikes under Operation Delta Safe in the Niger Delta.
According to a statement released on Sunday by Air Commodore Ehimen Ejodame, Director of Public Relations and Information for the NAF, the Air Component carried out over 173 missions and 265 sorties, logging approximately 270 flying hours.
These operations supported joint military efforts and executed independent precision strikes across several key oil-producing states.
The airstrikes, aimed at curbing crude oil theft and safeguarding Nigeria’s strategic economic assets, also led to the destruction of: 53 boats; 74 cooking tanks; 2 reservoirs and numerous vehicles used for transporting stolen crude oil.
Ejodame emphasized that these operations have severely disrupted the activities of oil thieves and vandals in high-risk areas such as Buguma, Imo River, Port Harcourt, Okrika, Egbema/Ohaji, and the Trans Niger Pipeline Right of Way.
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“The operations are aligned with national efforts to curb militancy, prevent environmental degradation caused by illegal refining, and protect critical oil and gas infrastructure—the backbone of Nigeria’s economy,” he stated.
The NAF 115 Special Operations Group (115 SOG), which hosts the air component, has maintained a high operational tempo in the region, consistently dismantling illegal refining setups and targeting criminal logistics chains.
Despite ongoing civil-military cooperation and community engagement initiatives, Ejodame noted that “the kinetic component of NAF’s strategy remains essential to uprooting entrenched criminal networks.”
The NAF reiterated its commitment to national security and economic stability, highlighting that its sustained air operations are crucial to keeping Nigeria’s oil-rich regions secure and productive.
