The Nigerian Air Force (NAF) has underscored its crucial role in safeguarding national security and bolstering economic stability through a series of successful air operations across multiple regions. These efforts include coordinated counter-terrorism campaigns in the North-East and sustained air interdiction missions targeting oil theft in the Niger Delta, which the NAF credits with a measurable rebound in national crude oil production.

In the North-East, the Air Component of Operation Hadin Kai (AC OPHD) executed a precision night operation on September 18, 2025, targeting Bula Yobe and Banki in Borno State. The operation resulted in the elimination of over 25 terrorists. Air Commodore Ehimen Ejodame, Director of Public Relations and Information, Nigerian Air Force, confirmed that the mission was launched following actionable intelligence reports from ground troops. A coordinated force package, comprising Intelligence, Surveillance, and Reconnaissance (ISR) assets alongside strike aircraft, was deployed.

The ISR platform tracked the movements of terrorist groups north of Banki and relayed real-time updates to both ground forces and base operations, enabling synchronized action. Subsequently, strike aircraft conducted three successive precision attacks on identified terrorist movement routes and assembly points. Post-strike surveillance confirmed the absence of remaining threats, reflecting the NAF’s commitment to supporting ground forces and denying terrorists freedom of movement in Nigeria’s North-East.

Meanwhile, the NAF has also highlighted its pivotal role in the recent rise in Nigeria’s crude oil production, linking the improvement directly to sustained air interdiction and ISR operations in the Niger Delta under the Air Component of Operation Delta Safe (AC OPDS).

This comes even as the Federal Government continues a $144 million contract with Tantita Security Services for oil installation protection. In a statement titled “NAF Air Operations Drive Up Oil Output, Curb Economic Sabotage in the Niger Delta”, Air Commodore Ejodame affirmed that NAF air surveillance and interdiction missions have significantly curtailed oil theft activities.

This intensified effort follows directives from the Chief of the Air Staff (CAS), Air Marshal Hasan Bala Abubakar, urging all air components to escalate operational tempo. During a periodic briefing on September 19, 2025, Group Captain Abdulafeez Opaleye, Commander of AC OPDS, reported that daily helicopter sorties across several Niger Delta states have effectively disrupted saboteurs’ access to pipelines, illegal refineries, and logistics hubs. Ejodame emphasized that the NAF’s consistent aerial presence over mangrove, riverine, and coastal terrains provides a vital layer of protection for Nigeria’s economic lifeline.

Between May and August 2025, surveillance and strike platforms conducted numerous ISR, Armed Reconnaissance, and Pipeline Patrol missions across Ondo, Edo, Delta, Bayelsa, Rivers, Akwa Ibom, and Cross River States. These operations reportedly uncovered and dismantled dozens of illegal refining facilities, neutralized militant camps, and disrupted oil theft networks, including the destruction of cooking tanks, reservoirs, and other illicit equipment.

The NAF noted that these operational gains coincided with a steady rise in national oil output. In July 2025, Nigeria’s total oil production reportedly averaged 1.71 million barrels per day (mbpd), including condensates, with crude oil output alone at approximately 1.51 mbpd. This represents a consistent month-on-month increase, largely attributed to the improved security environment, particularly operations spearheaded or supported by AC OPDS.

Air Vice Marshal Francis Edosa, Chief of Training and Operations (CTOP), reported that from May to July 2025, the Air Component executed 117 missions and 189 sorties, totaling 192 flight hours and consuming over 60,000 litres of Jet A-1 fuel. During this period, troops destroyed 25 illegal cooking tanks, 11 reservoirs, and 3 drums used in refining stolen crude. Edosa reiterated the NAF’s commitment to stabilizing the Niger Delta, protecting national oil revenue, and maintaining air superiority against acts of sabotage.

In a related development, the Defence Headquarters (DHQ) reaffirmed its dedication to ensuring the safe return of Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs) to their ancestral communities. Chief of Defence Staff (CDS) General Christopher Musa, represented by Rear Admiral Olusanya Bankole, Chief of Defence Civil-Military Relations, made this assurance during an outreach at the Durumi IDP Camp in Abuja, marking the International Day of Peace.

General Musa emphasized that the armed forces have intensified operations to eliminate terrorists and criminal elements, stressing that beyond battlefield victories, the military prioritizes human security, peacebuilding, and development. He highlighted that true security encompasses not only defeating terrorists but also safeguarding food, health, education, and the right to live with dignity. While palliatives provided serve as temporary relief, the ultimate goal remains the safe return of IDPs to their communities. The CDS urged IDPs to embrace peace and unity, emphasizing that stability is essential for sustainable development and that the military seeks to be recognized as a partner in progress.