By Chuks Oyema-Aziken
The air component of Joint Task Force Operation Delta Safe (OPDS) says its operations in 2025 have led to the destruction of more than 131 illegal refining sites and several crude oil theft facilities across the Niger Delta.
Briefing defence correspondents in Port Harcourt, the Commander of the Nigerian Air Force 115 Special Operations Group, Group Captain Abdulafeez Opaleye, said the sustained air campaign has significantly weakened oil theft networks and economic saboteurs in the region.
Opaleye said the air unit flew 495 missions in 779 sorties, recording over 784 flight hours in support of joint air, land and maritime operations. Assets deployed included T-129 ATAK attack helicopters, EC-135 helicopters, Diamond-62 aircraft and Wing Loong II unmanned combat aerial vehicles.
He explained that intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance missions exposed illegal refining camps, vandalised pipelines and hidden storage facilities, leading to air interdictions that destroyed 36 wooden boats, 23 reservoirs and dugout pits, and 125 storage tanks containing stolen petroleum products.
According to him, the operations have forced many criminals to abandon their camps and disrupted attempts to re-establish illegal sites, contributing to improved oil production and revenue.
Opaleye said operations under Operation Delta Safe would continue, stressing that community support was essential to sustaining gains.
Also speaking, the Director of Defence Media Operations, Major General Michael Onoja, praised the air component’s achievements and urged the media to support national security efforts through accurate and responsible reporting.
