The Nigerian Air Force has destroyed more than 100 illegal oil refineries and other criminal assets in Ondo and six other oil-producing states between January and May 2025.
In a statement released on Sunday, the NAF spokesman, Air Commodore Ehimen Ejodame, said the airstrikes were carried out by the 115 Special Operations Group, which handles the Air Component of Operation DELTA SAFE.
The affected states include Ondo, Edo, Delta, Bayelsa, Rivers, Akwa Ibom, and Cross River.
“The Nigerian Air Force has increased air operations in the Niger Delta, recording great success in the fight against crude oil theft and the protection of national assets,” Ejodame said.
He revealed that in the first five months of 2025, NAF aircraft carried out over 173 missions and 265 sorties, spending about 270 hours in the air.
According to him, the operations led to the destruction of:
Over 100 illegal refining sites
53 boats
74 cooking tanks
Two reservoirs
Several transport vehicles used by oil thieves
“These actions have seriously weakened the ability of oil thieves and vandals, especially in areas like Buguma, Imo River, Port Harcourt, Okrika, Egbema/Ohaji, and along the Trans Niger Pipeline route,” he added.
Ejodame said the operations support national efforts to fight militancy, stop environmental pollution caused by illegal refineries, and protect the country’s vital oil and gas resources.
He also stressed that the air force will continue with both forceful (kinetic) and peaceful (non-kinetic) efforts to stop criminal groups in the region.
While working with communities to build peace and development, Ejodame said the use of force remains important to remove the deeply rooted criminal networks damaging the economy.
“These continued air operations show the Air Force’s strong commitment to keeping Nigeria’s oil region safe and productive,” he concluded.
