As part of efforts to check insecurity in the northeast, the Chief of Air Staff, Air Marshall Sadiq Abubakar has inaugurated a new Combat Search and Rescue Unit in Jos.
Abubakar, who spoke during the inauguration in Kerang community, Mangu Local Government disclosed that the unit will be equipped with medical and educational facilities for benefit of the military and civilians in the host community.
He said the current security situation in the country called for the establishment of the new unit, such that the combat search and rescue group could easily get to crisis area in the northern parts of the country.
Abubakar said: “The current security landscape of our country and the challenges to the attainment of our national security requires robust security architecture capable of rapid response in all spectrums.
“Having achieved the sufficient capacity within the last one and half-year, the NAF has identified need to establish a fifth fleet command with command operation headquarters in Abuja and comprising nine specialised units including the unit that will be located in this community.”
The CAS urged the new group to be professional in their conduct, adding that the decision to site the unit was part of the determination to add value to security in the area.
He restated commitment of the military to protect lives and properties in the State in partnerships with other para-military bodies.
Abubakar further lauded President Muhammadu Buhari for his supports for the military.
“We are here to add value to the society. We will work in partnership with other security agencies to ensure plateau is secured.
“Our desire is to ensure people go out peacefully to do their legitimate businesses,” he added.
In his remark, Governor of Plateau State, Simeon Lalong described the inauguration as beneficial to the people considering the inclusion of medical and educational facilities.
He said the rate of insurgency in the country made it important to situate the new unit in the council area.
The governor, who disclosed that the land title for the project had been made available, emphasised that the establishment will reduce NAF response time to emergency crisis or rescue operations in the northern states.
“Within two days, a land was provided for the air force project in this community. If it were to be other communities, they will be fighting over compensation which could have caused another crisis,” Lalong added.
He described the special operations command and rescue unit as part of Federal Government commitment to protect citizens of the country.
However, he urged the military to adopt civil-military relationship with the host community.
Present at the event was Plateau State Commissioner for Police, Peter Babatunde, representatives of the Nigerian Immigration Service, Nigerian Security and Civil Defence Corps, Nigerian Prison Service (NPS), Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC) among others.