The Nigerian Air Force (NAF) says it has destroyed more than 100 illegal refining sites in the Niger Delta within the first five months of 2025 as part of ongoing efforts to combat crude oil theft and environmental degradation.
This was revealed by the Director of Public Relations and Information, Air Commodore Edward Ehimen Ejodame, in a statement issued on Sunday in Abuja.
According to Ejodame, the air component of Operation Delta Safe executed no fewer than 173 missions and 265 sorties, amassing over 270 flying hours between January and May in support of joint and independent military operations in oil-producing states.
In addition to the destruction of illegal refining sites, the NAF airstrikes also neutralised 53 boats, 74 cooking tanks, two reservoirs, and several transport vehicles used by oil thieves and pipeline vandals.
“These actions have significantly degraded the capacity of oil thieves and vandals along critical corridors such as Buguma, Imo River, Port Harcourt, Okrika, Egbema/Ohaji, and the Trans Niger Pipeline Right of Way,” he said.
Ejodame explained that the air operations are aligned with the Federal Government’s broader strategy to curb militancy, halt environmental pollution caused by illegal refining, and safeguard vital oil and gas infrastructure — regarded as the backbone of the national economy.
He noted that the 115 Special Operations Group (115 SOG), which hosts the air component in the region, has maintained a high operational tempo, continuously disrupting the logistics of criminal networks.
While reaffirming the NAF’s commitment to civil-military cooperation and regional development, Ejodame stressed that the kinetic approach remains crucial to dismantling entrenched criminal syndicates in the oil-rich region.
“These sustained operations reflect the Air Force’s unwavering commitment to national security and economic stability, ensuring that Nigeria’s oil heartland remains protected and productive,” the statement added.
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