Flying and bombing: the contributions of air power to security and crisis management in the Niger Delta region of Nigeria

ABSTRACT

There is a growing resort to air power in Nigeria’s military and security engagements in the oil producing region of Niger Delta. However, most literatures on security engagements in the region overlook air power, or reduce it to unnecessary flying and indiscriminate bombing of civilians. Air power plays a considerable role in surveillance and coercion against the menace of kidnapping, sabotage, oil theft and illegal oil refining, militancy, and armed robbery against ships in the Niger Delta and associated piracy off the coasts of Nigeria, its neighbours and the Gulf of Guinea. It is also involved in strategic transportation, search and rescue/relieve of endangered civilians (e.g. hostages) and to an extent victims of natural disasters (e.g. floods). This article seeks to examine the threats to security in Nigeria’s Niger Delta, and the relevance of air power in the arrangement of security responses and disaster management in the region.

Abbreviations: ABV: Adaka Boro Avengers; AU: African Union; ACLED: Armed Conflict Location and Event Database; BSDF: Bakassi Self Determination Front; CNC: Central Naval Command; CAF: Chief of Air Force; COMA: Coalition of Militant Action; CDF: Coastal Defence Force; DSS: Department of State Service; ENC: Eastern Naval Command; ECOWAS: Economic Community of West African States; EBA: Egbesu Boys of Africa; FOBs: Forward Operational Bases; GWVSL: Global West Vessel Specialist Limited; GoG: Gulf of Guinea; GGC: Gulf of Guinea Commission; HQ: headquarters; IVF: Iduwini Volunteer Force; IYC: Ijaw Youth Council; ISR: intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance; IDPs: Internally Displaced Persons; JNDLF: Joint Niger Delta Liberation Force; JTF: Joint Task Force; LIMUP: Liberation Movement of the Urhobo People; MANPADS: man-portable air-defence systems; MOWCA: Maritime Organisation of West and Central Africa; mcm: million cubic meters; MEND: Movement for the Emancipation of Niger Delta; MOSOP: Movement for the Survival of the Ogoni People; NEMA: National Emergency Management Agency; NIA: National Intelligence Agency; NOSDRA: National Oil Spill Detection and Response Agency; NSO: National Security Organisation; NASRDA: National Space Research and Development Agency; NDA: Niger Delta Avenger; NDGJM: Niger Delta Greenland Justice Movement; NDLF: Niger Delta Liberation Force; NDPVF: Niger Delta Peoples Volunteers Force; NDRC: Niger Delta Revolutionary Crusaders; NDV: Niger Delta Vigilant; NDVF: Niger Delta Volunteer Force; NPF: Nigeria Police Force; NSCDC: Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps; NAF: Nigerian Air Force; NA: Nigerian Army; NFS: Nigerian Fire Service; NIS: Nigerian Immigration Service; NMN: Nigerian Marchant Navy; NIMASA: Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency; NN: Nigerian Navy; NPS: Nigerian Prison Service; PICOMSS: Presidential Implementation Committee on Maritime Safety and Security; REBND: Reformed Egbesu Boys of the Niger Delta; SARS: Special Anti-Robbery Squad; UAVs: Unmanned Aerial Vehicles; UYBF: Ughievwen Youth Body Fighters; URA: Urhobo Revolutionary Army; WNC: Western Naval Command

KEYWORDS:

• Air power
• air force
• crisis management
• militancy
• military
• Niger Delta
• Nigeria
• oil politics
• security

Acknowledgments

The author would like to thank J. Shola Omotola, Lere Amusan, Emmanuel Durosinmi, Funmi Gaji, the three anonymous reviewers and the editorial team of Defence Studies for their valuable advice and comments.

Disclosure statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the author.

Additional information

Notes on contributors

Samuel Oyewole

Mr. Samuel Oyewole is an assistant lecturer in the Department of Political Science, Federal University Oye-Ekiti, Nigeria and a PhD candidate in Department of Politics and International Relations, North West University, South Africa. His research interest cover African affairs, military and strategic studies, crisis management, and political economy. His articles have appeared in many leading journals, including Astropolitics, Australian Journal of Maritime and Ocean Affairs, African Security Review, Defense and Security Analysis, Journal of Asian and African Studies, New Zealand International Review, Politeia, Strategic Analysis, and Studies in Conflict & Terrorism.