Military Jets Destroy 49 Cooking Tanks, 36 Reservoirs in Niger Delta
The Nigerian Air Force’s 115 Special Operations Group (115 SOG), which serves as the Air Component of Operation Delta Safe (OPDS), has reaffirmed its frontline role in safeguarding Nigeria’s critical oil and gas infrastructure across the Niger Delta.
Group Captain Abdulafeez Opaleye, Commander of the 115 Operations Group
disclosed this is on Wednesday during a briefing of the defence correspondents’ tour to the unit base in Port Harcourt.
Operating as the aviation backbone of OPDS, the 115 SOG is tasked with battlefield mobility, force protection, close air support, and interdiction missions aimed at disrupting illegal oil bunkering, pipeline vandalism, and other forms of economic sabotage.
“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,” Group Captain Opaleye stated.
He said between January 25 and May 25, 2025, the 115 SOG executed 172 missions, accumulating a total of 268 hours and 40 minutes of flight time, while consuming 87,938 litres of JET-A1 fuel. The operations resulted in the destruction of 49 illegal cooking tanks, 16 boats, and 20 reservoirs and drums used in crude oil theft.
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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.
“Air assets currently deployed include T-129 Atak and EC-135 helicopters, used for armed reconnaissance, close air support, and liaison duties. The Unit is also working to reactivate its grounded Mi-35P helicopter to further bolster its operational capacity.
“Aside from air strikes, the 115 SOG contributes ground troops to internal security operations in Rivers State and environs, acting as a standby force in collaboration with other security agencies. These intelligence-driven deployments have been effective in clamping down on criminal hotspots across the region”, he added.
Opaleye further to the 115 SOG plans to intensify armed reconnaissance and show-of-force missions across known illegal refining locations. The unit also aims to enhance its intelligence-sharing framework with land and maritime forces to enable faster, more precise targeting of criminal activities.
Despite facing logistical and technical challenges, the 115 SOG remains committed to its mission of securing Nigeria’s vital oil infrastructure and fostering a safer environment for economic development in the Niger Delta.
“We remain dedicated to the mandate of protecting national assets and neutralizing threats that undermine our economic stability,” Commander emphasized.
