The Nigerian Air Force will continue to provide close air support and interdiction missions aimed at disrupting illegal oil bunkering, pipeline vandalism and other forms of economic sabotage in the South South Region.
The Commander, 115 Special Operations Group (SOG) and the Air Component of Operation Delta Safe (OPDS), Group Captain Abdulhafeez Opaleye disclose this to Defence Correspondents who are on the spot assessment to the unit base in Port Harcourt, Rivers State.
He said that the Air Component pivotal role in safeguarding the Nation’s critical oil and gas infrastructure across the Niger Delta region can not be stressed enough as it’s key in the increasing Oil production.
”The Unit effectively employed its air assets to locate and destroy numerous illegal refining sites and neutralize oil thieves operating in the Niger Delta region.
“The Unit conducts air operations jointly with surface forces to deny oil thieves freedom of action. These efforts have consistently shaped the operational theatre, compelling saboteurs to abandon numerous illegal refining sites, “Opaleye stated.
The Commander said between January 25 and May 25, 2025, the unit executed 172 missions, accumulating a total of 268 hours and 40 minutes of flight time, while consuming 87,938 litres of JET-A1 fuel, noting that the operations resulted in the destruction of 49 illegal cooking tanks, 16 boats, and 20 reservoirs and drums used in crude oil theft.
”The Unit also conducts day and night air combat operations deep into the creeks to identify and destroy criminal element camps. Also, the Unit is deeply involved in all anti crude oil theft and illegal refining operations while denying oil thieves and economic saboteurs’ freedom of operations. “Opaleye stated.
Opaleye further emphasised that the Unit will intensify armed reconnaissance and show-of-force missions across known illegal refining locations and also aims to enhance its intelligence-sharing framework with land and maritime forces to enable faster, more precise targeting of criminal activities.
He noted that among the strategic national assets the unit protects are the Trans-Niger Pipeline (TNP), the Nigeria Liquefied Natural Gas (NLNG) plants, and various wellheads and pipeline routes.
“Our day and night patrols, aerial reconnaissance, and air interdiction missions are routinely carried out to deter and neutralize threats.
Group Captain Opaleye stressed that the Air Component Operation Delta Safe remains committed to its mission of securing Nigeria’s vital oil infrastructure and fostering a safer environment for economic development in the Niger Delta, despite the logistics and technical challenges.
“We remain dedicated to the mandate of protecting national assets and neutralizing threats that undermine our economic stability,” Commander emphasized.
He stated that Unemployment is a huge challenge in addressing the Crude oil theft, urging government to intensify effort in providing basic social amenities for the populace.
”Non kinetic aspect of the war against the crude oil theft dwells more on the government, if such amenities are provided it will go a long way to reducing some of the social vices in our country. “he said.
SOUTH SOUTH: Deployment of Air Assets in the Maritime Domain is Key to Scale Up Oil Production…. Opaleye
The Nigerian Air Force will continue to provide close air support and interdiction missions aimed at disrupting illegal oil bunkering, pipeline vandalism and other forms of economic sabotage in the South South Region.
The Commander, 115 Special Operations Group (SOG) and the Air Component of Operation Delta Safe (OPDS), Group Captain Abdulhafeez Opaleye disclose this to Defence Correspondents who are on the spot assessment to the unit base in Port Harcourt, Rivers State.
He said that the Air Component pivotal role in safeguarding the Nation’s critical oil and gas infrastructure across the Niger Delta region can not be stressed enough as it’s key in the increasing Oil production.
”The Unit effectively employed its air assets to locate and destroy numerous illegal refining sites and neutralize oil thieves operating in the Niger Delta region.
“The Unit conducts air operations jointly with surface forces to deny oil thieves freedom of action. These efforts have consistently shaped the operational theatre, compelling saboteurs to abandon numerous illegal refining sites, “Opaleye stated.
The Commander said between January 25 and May 25, 2025, the unit executed 172 missions, accumulating a total of 268 hours and 40 minutes of flight time, while consuming 87,938 litres of JET-A1 fuel, noting that the operations resulted in the destruction of 49 illegal cooking tanks, 16 boats, and 20 reservoirs and drums used in crude oil theft.
”The Unit also conducts day and night air combat operations deep into the creeks to identify and destroy criminal element camps. Also, the Unit is deeply involved in all anti crude oil theft and illegal refining operations while denying oil thieves and economic saboteurs’ freedom of operations. “Opaleye stated.
Opaleye further emphasised that the Unit will intensify armed reconnaissance and show-of-force missions across known illegal refining locations and also aims to enhance its intelligence-sharing framework with land and maritime forces to enable faster, more precise targeting of criminal activities.
He noted that among the strategic national assets the unit protects are the Trans-Niger Pipeline (TNP), the Nigeria Liquefied Natural Gas (NLNG) plants, and various wellheads and pipeline routes.
“Our day and night patrols, aerial reconnaissance, and air interdiction missions are routinely carried out to deter and neutralize threats.
Group Captain Opaleye stressed that the Air Component Operation Delta Safe remains committed to its mission of securing Nigeria’s vital oil infrastructure and fostering a safer environment for economic development in the Niger Delta, despite the logistics and technical challenges.
“We remain dedicated to the mandate of protecting national assets and neutralizing threats that undermine our economic stability,” Commander emphasized.
He stated that Unemployment is a huge challenge in addressing the Crude oil theft, urging government to intensify effort in providing basic social amenities for the populace.
”Non kinetic aspect of the war against the crude oil theft dwells more on the government, if such amenities are provided it will go a long way to reducing some of the social vices in our country. “he said.
LEAVE A REPLY
The Nigerian Air Force will continue to provide close air support and interdiction missions aimed at disrupting illegal oil bunkering, pipeline vandalism and other forms of economic sabotage in the South South Region.
The Commander, 115 Special Operations Group (SOG) and the Air Component of Operation Delta Safe (OPDS), Group Captain Abdulhafeez Opaleye disclose this to Defence Correspondents who are on the spot assessment to the unit base in Port Harcourt, Rivers State.
He said that the Air Component pivotal role in safeguarding the Nation’s critical oil and gas infrastructure across the Niger Delta region can not be stressed enough as it’s key in the increasing Oil production.
”The Unit effectively employed its air assets to locate and destroy numerous illegal refining sites and neutralize oil thieves operating in the Niger Delta region.
“The Unit conducts air operations jointly with surface forces to deny oil thieves freedom of action. These efforts have consistently shaped the operational theatre, compelling saboteurs to abandon numerous illegal refining sites, “Opaleye stated.
The Commander said between January 25 and May 25, 2025, the unit executed 172 missions, accumulating a total of 268 hours and 40 minutes of flight time, while consuming 87,938 litres of JET-A1 fuel, noting that the operations resulted in the destruction of 49 illegal cooking tanks, 16 boats, and 20 reservoirs and drums used in crude oil theft.
”The Unit also conducts day and night air combat operations deep into the creeks to identify and destroy criminal element camps. Also, the Unit is deeply involved in all anti crude oil theft and illegal refining operations while denying oil thieves and economic saboteurs’ freedom of operations. “Opaleye stated.
Opaleye further emphasised that the Unit will intensify armed reconnaissance and show-of-force missions across known illegal refining locations and also aims to enhance its intelligence-sharing framework with land and maritime forces to enable faster, more precise targeting of criminal activities.
He noted that among the strategic national assets the unit protects are the Trans-Niger Pipeline (TNP), the Nigeria Liquefied Natural Gas (NLNG) plants, and various wellheads and pipeline routes.
“Our day and night patrols, aerial reconnaissance, and air interdiction missions are routinely carried out to deter and neutralize threats.
Group Captain Opaleye stressed that the Air Component Operation Delta Safe remains committed to its mission of securing Nigeria’s vital oil infrastructure and fostering a safer environment for economic development in the Niger Delta, despite the logistics and technical challenges.
“We remain dedicated to the mandate of protecting national assets and neutralizing threats that undermine our economic stability,” Commander emphasized.
He stated that Unemployment is a huge challenge in addressing the Crude oil theft, urging government to intensify effort in providing basic social amenities for the populace.
”Non kinetic aspect of the war against the crude oil theft dwells more on the government, if such amenities are provided it will go a long way to reducing some of the social vices in our country. “he said.
LEAVE A REPLY
The Nigerian Air Force will continue to provide close air support and interdiction missions aimed at disrupting illegal oil bunkering, pipeline vandalism and other forms of economic sabotage in the South South Region.
The Commander, 115 Special Operations Group (SOG) and the Air Component of Operation Delta Safe (OPDS), Group Captain Abdulhafeez Opaleye disclose this to Defence Correspondents who are on the spot assessment to the unit base in Port Harcourt, Rivers State.
He said that the Air Component pivotal role in safeguarding the Nation’s critical oil and gas infrastructure across the Niger Delta region can not be stressed enough as it’s key in the increasing Oil production.
”The Unit effectively employed its air assets to locate and destroy numerous illegal refining sites and neutralize oil thieves operating in the Niger Delta region.
“The Unit conducts air operations jointly with surface forces to deny oil thieves freedom of action. These efforts have consistently shaped the operational theatre, compelling saboteurs to abandon numerous illegal refining sites, “Opaleye stated.
The Commander said between January 25 and May 25, 2025, the unit executed 172 missions, accumulating a total of 268 hours and 40 minutes of flight time, while consuming 87,938 litres of JET-A1 fuel, noting that the operations resulted in the destruction of 49 illegal cooking tanks, 16 boats, and 20 reservoirs and drums used in crude oil theft.
”The Unit also conducts day and night air combat operations deep into the creeks to identify and destroy criminal element camps. Also, the Unit is deeply involved in all anti crude oil theft and illegal refining operations while denying oil thieves and economic saboteurs’ freedom of operations. “Opaleye stated.
Opaleye further emphasised that the Unit will intensify armed reconnaissance and show-of-force missions across known illegal refining locations and also aims to enhance its intelligence-sharing framework with land and maritime forces to enable faster, more precise targeting of criminal activities.
He noted that among the strategic national assets the unit protects are the Trans-Niger Pipeline (TNP), the Nigeria Liquefied Natural Gas (NLNG) plants, and various wellheads and pipeline routes.
“Our day and night patrols, aerial reconnaissance, and air interdiction missions are routinely carried out to deter and neutralize threats.
Group Captain Opaleye stressed that the Air Component Operation Delta Safe remains committed to its mission of securing Nigeria’s vital oil infrastructure and fostering a safer environment for economic development in the Niger Delta, despite the logistics and technical challenges.
“We remain dedicated to the mandate of protecting national assets and neutralizing threats that undermine our economic stability,” Commander emphasized.
He stated that Unemployment is a huge challenge in addressing the Crude oil theft, urging government to intensify effort in providing basic social amenities for the populace.
”Non kinetic aspect of the war against the crude oil theft dwells more on the government, if such amenities are provided it will go a long way to reducing some of the social vices in our country. “he said.