General
Air Support Troops Clear 20 Crude Oil Reservoirs in Niger Delta
By Adedapo Adesanya
The 115 Special Operations Group (SOG) of the Nigerian Air Force, under the Air Component of Operation Delta Safe (OPDS), stated that it has destroyed 49 illegal refineries, various cooking tanks, and over 20 large crude oil reservoirs used by oil thieves in the Niger Delta over the last five months.
Commander 115 Special Operations Group (SOG) Group Captain Abdulafeez Opaleye, who made this known, said it has not recorded any civilian casualties as its operations are targeted solely on oil thieves and nothing more.
Group Captain Opaleye said this at a briefing with Defence Correspondents on media tour of military operations in Port Harcourt.
Known as the “home of combat helicopters,” the 115 Operations Group continues to serve as the Air Component of Operation Delta Safe, tasked with protecting national assets in the oil-rich Niger Delta and providing critical combat support to surface forces.
Their operations complements efforts of OPDS, which announced this week that it destroyed 578 illegal refineries and arrested 681 oil thieves between January- May, 2025.
He said precision air strikes carried out by attack helicopters, led to the destruction of 16 large boats used for crude oil siphoning which has effectively reduced operations of oil thieves and economic saboteurs of the country.
Giving an update of the operations of the commands, he said that the anti-crude oil theft missions were executed with a total of 172 sorties, with fighter and surveillance aircraft accumulating 268 hours and 40 minutes of flight time, consuming 87,938 liters of Jet A1 fuel.
He boasted that the daring operations have forced oil thieves and other criminals to flee their hideouts and abandoned illegal refining sites.
He specifically cited a notable precision air raid at Egbema Ohaji on March 27, which neutralized a major illegal refining hub.
The commander further emphasized the unit’s expertise in conducting various air missions, including precision strikes during day and night, close air support, armed escort, air interdiction, combat air patrols, and casualty evacuation.
While noting that Efforts are ongoing to reactivate a Mi-35P helicopter to enhance the group’s firepower to carry out its mandate, the commander said that Intelligence Surveillance and Reconnaissance (ISR) aircraft and Unmanned Aerial Vehicles (UAVs) deployed from Nigerian Air Force Headquarters has no doubt boosted mission success.
Aside air operations, he said the 115 Special Operations Group has deployed ground personnel to collaborate in joint internal security operations with other agencies, helping to police volatile communities and deter organized crime.
The briefing highlighted the technological capacity and operational readiness of the unit, which has deployments in Katsina, Maiduguri, Plateau, and Enugu. It also praised the courage, professionalism, and sacrifices of Nigerian Air Force personnel dedicated to securing the nation.
The commander who attributed the rise in Nigeria’s oil production capacity—from 1.2 million barrels to 1.85 million barrels per day—to the precision air strikes, especially in areas inaccessible to ground forces, said that the group’s night operation capabilities have been “top-notch.”
The commander noted that the criminals have evolved new methods of moving illegal refining activities further from pipeline routes to escape detection.
“Previously, these activities occurred near pipelines, but now we’ve seen them operate up to 1,500 meters away from the source.
They tap into pipelines during maintenance operations and run hoses as far as 10 to 15 kilometers into remote areas, especially deep within forested mangroves.
“In some of these places, there is no visible sign of activity on the surface. However, we are able to detect, confirm, and destroy these illegal operations with precision.”
The commander who maintained that the operation is targeted solely on oil thieves and not civilians, said
“Our strikes are designed be as accurate as possible. While we are targeting criminal activities, we are also mindful of the human element. So far, there have been no reports of civilian casualties from our operations. Any reported collateral damage has not involved human lives, and we remain extremely cautious in that regard,”.
In an operational briefing by Flight Lieutenant I.H. Adamu (SO1 Operations, 150 Wing) noted the unit’s available air assets, including EC-135 helicopters for light combat and liaison roles, T-129 Atak helicopters for offensive operations, and Mi-35 helicopter gunships.
On his part, Team leader Navy Commander Goddy Egbunu, and other officials representing Defence Media Operations commended the 115 Special Operations Group for its outstanding performance in combating oil theft, vandalism, and criminality in the Niger Delta.
Group Captain Opaleye was specifically praised for his purposeful leadership, tactical expertise, and unwavering dedication, which have positioned the unit as one of Nigeria’s most formidable aerial strike and surveillance teams.
By Aduragbemi Omiyale
A former member of the House of Representatives, Mr Onamusi Onadeko, has been sentenced to nine months’ imprisonment with an option of a fine of N50,000.
The former lawmaker, who represented Ogun East Federal Constituency in the National Assembly from 1999 to 2003, was sentenced by Justice Chizoba Oji of the Federal Capital Territory High Court in Abuja on Thursday, July 30, 2026.
He was found guilty on count 11 and convicted for making inconsistent statements but discharged and acquitted on counts 2, 3, 4, 6, 7, 8, 9 and 10.
Mr Onadeko’s journey to the court started in 2017, when he was charged by the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC) for his alleged involvement in the award and execution of a N68.7 million contract.
The politician, according to a statement from the ICPC, was accused of using his private companies, Stanton Engineering Limited and Haines and Baines Limited, to execute several constituency projects while working as a Senior Legislative Aide to late Senator Buruji Kashamu, who represented Ogun East Senatorial District between 2015 and 2019.
The commission, had in the course of the eight years trial told the court that several contracts like buying of ambulance vehicles, supply of hospital equipment and drugs for Primary Health Centres, as well as construction of classrooms for some selected schools in six communities of Ogun East Senatorial District, were awarded to both Stanton Engineering Limited and Haines and Baines, where the convict doubles as a Managing Director and nominal Director, respectively, an action that violates Sections 12 and 19 of the Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Act, 2000.
ICPC also accused Mr Onadeko of making an inconsistent statement that contradicted the one previously made to the Commissioner for Oaths, where he stated that he is a Director of Haines and Baines Limited in an affidavit dated June 30, 20216, but subsequently wrote another statement while under investigation on May 5, 2017, that he is not a shareholder or Director of Haines and Baines Limited.
This action violates Section 25(1)(b) of the ICPC Act and, upon conviction, is liable to a fine not exceeding N100,000 or to imprisonment for a term not exceeding two years or to both such fine and imprisonment.
However, Mr Onadeko, through his counsel, Mr Wahab Olatoyebi, argued in the course of the trial that his client was not a public officer as his appointment at that material time was on a short-term basis and non-pensionable, hence he, (Onadeko) did not fall within the category of those that could be tried under Sections 12 and 19 of the Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Act, 2000 which criminalize and punish abuse of office by public officers.
But this argument was rejected by Justice Oji, who stressed that based on the defendant’s letter of appointment as well as the decision of the Supreme Court in the case of Federal Government of Nigeria v. Farouk Lawan, legislative aides are public officers and therefore could be prosecuted under the relevant provisions of the Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Act, 2000.
By Adedapo Adesanya
The Governor of Oyo State, Mr Seyi Makinde, has inaugurated a Judicial Commission of Inquiry to investigate the abduction of students and teachers from Esinele and Yawota communities in Oriire Local Government Area of Oyo State.
The governor formally inaugurated the commission at the Executive Council Chamber of the Governor’s Office, Secretariat, Agodi, Ibadan.
Speaking at the event, Governor Makinde said that although the successful rescue of the victims brought relief to the state, it did not provide complete closure.
He explained that the decision to set up an independent commission was not intended to undermine the efforts of security agencies but to ensure that every question surrounding the incident is thoroughly addressed and lessons are learnt to prevent a recurrence.
He charged members of the commission to conduct a thorough, impartial, and evidence-based investigation, assuring them of the state government’s full support. He also called on individuals and relevant institutions to cooperate fully with the panel.
Speaking on behalf of the commission, its chairman, Professor Mojeed Owoade, pledged that members would carry out the assignment with integrity, professionalism, and fairness. He added that the panel would seek an extension if necessary to complete its work.
Governor Makinde gave the commission four weeks to submit its report.
Earlier this month, the pupils and teachers abducted in Oriire Local Government Area of Oyo State regained their freedom after 56 days in captivity.
According to the Special Adviser to the President on Information and Strategy, Mr Bayo Onanuga, eight of the kidnappers had been arrested, but the Federal High Court in Abuja on July 23 sentenced three suspects in the abduction to life imprisonment.
According to the court, the sentencing of Mr Abdulrazak Umar, known under the alias Abu Khalifa/Abu Khalid; Mr Yunusa Musa, alias Yunusa Bin Musa; and Mr Shamsu Adamu Sani, alias Abu Itisar, will start from the date of their arrest.
Before their sentencing by Justice Salim Ibrahim, counsel for the defendants pleaded with the court to sentence them on liberal terms, adding that they were first-time offenders and had pleaded guilty.
By Modupe Gbadeyanka
Two Chinese, Mr Zhang Hong Lin and Mr Gao Pei Hai, have been convicted and sentenced by Justice Akintayo Aluko of the Federal High Court in Ikoyi, Lagos, for conspiracy and the illegal mining of solid minerals.
They were both found guilty on all five counts levelled against them by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) and sentenced each to five years’ imprisonment on each count, with an option of a N50 million fine covering all five counts.
The court also ordered the forfeiture of the mineral resources recovered from them to the Federal Government of Nigeria.
The defendants were arraigned on a five-count charge bordering on conspiracy and the unlawful possession of mineral resources intended for export without lawful authority.
“That you, Zhang Hong Lin, Gao Pei Hai, and Gao Pei Yu (currently at large), sometime in 2025 in Lagos, within the jurisdiction of this court, conspired among yourselves, with the intent to defraud the Federal Government of Nigeria of revenue accruing therefrom, and without the permission of the appropriate authority, engaged in the exportation of mica products, copper-bearing, and lithium-bearing mineral resources out of Nigeria, thereby committing an offence contrary to Section 1(8)(a) of the Miscellaneous Offences Act, 1983, and punishable under Section 8 of the same Act,” one of the charges read.
The defendants pleaded guilty when the charges were read to them, with the prosecution counsel, H.U. Kofarnaisa, calling the investigating officer, Matthew Orogwu, who reviewed the facts of the case and tendered documentary evidence before the court.
After presenting the evidence, Kofarnaisa urged the court to convict and sentence the defendants in line with the charges.
