For years, the creeks of the Niger Delta have represented both Nigeria’s economic backbone and a persistent security challenge.
Dense mangrove forests provided cover for illegal refineries, oil theft networks, and armed gangs that drained national resources, harmed the environment, and discouraged investment.
A significant transformation is now underway.
Recent visits to Operation DELTA SAFE (OPDS) formations across Rivers and Bayelsa States reveal a more coordinated, intelligence-driven, and technology-enabled military effort steadily dismantling oil theft syndicates.
At the center of this initiative is OPDS, a joint land, maritime, and air task force responsible for securing Nigeria’s oil and gas infrastructure.
From Southern Ijaw to key oil corridors in Rivers State, troops now operate in areas once deemed inaccessible.
Maj.-Gen. Emmanuel Emekah, General Officer Commanding 6 Division of the Nigerian Army, disclosed in Port Harcourt that the Division has recorded zero pipeline vandalism incidents within its area of responsibility over the past year.
“Since I assumed command on January 24, 2025, no oil company has reported breaches caused by vandalism,” Emekah said.
He attributed the success to continuous patrols, intelligence-led operations, community engagement, and strong inter-agency collaboration.
The GOC also noted that Nigeria’s crude oil output, which averaged 1.4–1.5 million barrels per day before 2025, rose to about 2.2 million barrels per day by December 2025, largely due to improved security measures.
According to Emekah, most pipeline leaks are now linked to aging infrastructure rather than sabotage.
Commanders across OPDS formations emphasized a shift from routine patrols to precision, intelligence-driven operations.
Criminals have become more sophisticated, laying long hoses into remote creeks and controlling waterways to evade detection.
“We realized that merely destroying illegal sites is insufficient. That’s why cleared locations are revisited regularly to prevent re-establishment,” Emekah explained.
The military also targets the support ecosystem—including markets, supply chains, and community enablers that sustain illicit refining.
“If there is no market, production collapses. Disrupting patronage is key,” he added.
On the Rivers–Bayelsa boundary, troops of the 16 Brigade have cleared oil thieves from the once-infamous Adibawa oil well, with plans for permanent deployment to prevent their return.
Maj. Hassan Mohammed, Acting Garrison Commander, said that swampy terrain posed challenges but had not deterred the troops.
“Our goal is to project forces deep into the forest. As criminals retreat, we pursue relentlessly,” he stated.
The plan includes deploying gunboats, houseboats, land troops, and surveillance drones, coordinated with the Nigerian Air Force, to maintain continuous control over strategic oil installations.
On the maritime front, the Nigerian Navy Ship (NNS) SOROH, operating under Central Naval Command and OPDS Sector 2, has reported significant successes in Bayelsa waterways.
Between January 2025 and the present, Commodore Omobamidele Akinbami, Commanding Officer of NNS SOROH, said over 12 boats were deactivated, more than 15 illegal refining sites dismantled, and millions of litres of suspected stolen petroleum products recovered.
Naval operations have forced syndicates to move smaller quantities via smaller boats, while patrols remain unrelenting.
The Navy has also addressed piracy, militancy, and kidnapping, including swift rescues of abducted victims.
Beyond combat operations, non-kinetic initiatives such as medical outreach, peacebuilding, and flood mitigation have helped build trust with host communities.
Air power has been instrumental in reshaping the security landscape.
The OPDS Air Component destroyed 131 illegal refining sites in 2025, conducted 495 missions in 779 sorties, and logged over 784 flight hours.
Assets deployed included T-129 ATAK helicopters, Wing Loong II UCAVs, EC-135 helicopters, and Diamond-62 aircraft, enabling deep intelligence, surveillance, and reconnaissance operations.
Group Capt. Abdulafeez Opaleye, Commander of the 115 Special Operations Group, said air operations have denied criminals freedom of movement and applied psychological pressure that forced many to abandon camps.
“While oil theft has become increasingly sophisticated, improved production benefits the entire nation,” he noted, urging continued community cooperation.
Rear Adm. Olugbenga Oladipo, OPDS Commander, warned that criminals are now shifting to chemical adulteration and exploiting remote wellheads.
OPDS has recalibrated its intelligence focus to track chemical supply chains and increase monitoring around vulnerable sites.
At least two major operations are conducted daily alongside routine patrols, Oladipo said, emphasizing that efforts continue on weekends and holidays.
To resolve disputes between oil companies and host communities, OPDS has established a Situation Room and Mediation Centre, which recorded peak activity in December, preventing disruptions to production.
Maj.-Gen. Michael Onoja, Director of Defence Media Operations, highlighted transparency, accountability, and strategic communication as critical.
He described journalists as “partners in progress” and “heroes of democracy,” noting that accurate reporting builds public trust and counters misinformation.
“Civilian confidence and trust are vital for operational success,” Onoja said, stressing that security is a shared responsibility.
From land to sea to air, the military’s intensified operations are not just securing pipelines—they are safeguarding Nigeria’s economy, restoring environmental stability, and rebuilding investor confidence.