The Nation Newspaper

Tag: Air Force

  • Kaduna crash: El-Rufai commiserates with victms’ families

    Kaduna crash: El-Rufai commiserates with victms’ families

    Governor Nasir El-Rufai of Kaduna State has commiserated with the families of the seven people that died in a Donier plane crash on Saturday in Kaduna.

    A statement signed by the governor’s spokesperson, Samuel Aruwan, in Kaduna on Saturday, said the governor also condoled with the Chief of Air Staff, and the officers and men of the Nigerian Air Force over the incident.

    The statement quoted the governor as saying that he received the news of the plane crash in Kaduna with “shock and sadness”.

    “We offer our deep condolences to the families, who have been bereaved by this incident.

    “May Almighty God, in His infinite mercies, grant their souls eternal rest and uphold their families in this moment of grief and sorrow,” the statement added.

    The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the Nigerian Air Force Dornier-228 aircraft crashed into Ribadu Cantonment (Old NDA) at about 6.45 a.m., killing all the seven people on board.

  • Seven die in NAF jet crash in Kaduna

    Seven persons are reported dead in an Air Force Training flight which crashed into Nigerian Defence Academy, NDA Officers Quarters, Kaduna on Saturday morning.

    Those on board the flight which crashed at about 6: 47am included the pilot, co-pilot, two engineers and three passengers.

    The Nation learnt that the Abuja bound flight crashed about 10 minutes after take off from the NAF base.

  • Air Force intercepts Boko Haram logistics trailers

    The Nigerian Air Force(NAF) has intercepted two trailers suspected to be carrying logistics support for members of the Boko Haram Terrorist(BHT) sect.
    The Director of Public Relations and Information of the Nigerian Air Force, Air Commodore Dele Alonge, disclosed this in a statement on Sunday night.
    The statement said: “Two trailers suspected to be carrying logistics support for members of the Boko Haram Terrorist(BHT) sect have been intercepted and destroyed by the Nigerian Air Force Agusta helicopter on armed reconnaissance mission around the Nigeria-Cameroon border.
    “The trailers were covered and parked at different locations in the bush around the border town of Belel.
    “The recent air operation against the BHTs was commanded by the Chief of Air Staff (CAS), Air Marshal Sadique Abubakar from NAF reconnaissance aircraft, the King Air 350i.
    “The CAS coordinated the various NAF platforms involved in the operation to provide close air support to ground forces, led by the Chief of the Army Staff, Lt Gen Tukur Buratai, as they advance from Dikwa to Gamboru Ngala.”

  • Air Force pounds Boko Haram’s bunkers

    Air Force pounds Boko Haram’s bunkers

    The Nigerian Air Force yesterday smoked out more Boko Haram elements from their fortified bunkers deep inside Sambisa Forest .

    It was also gathered that the military has uncovered that the insurgents were operating make-shift bunkers covered by logs and tree trunks.

    According to PRNigeria, a covert  military propaganda machinery, the raids were part of efforts aimed at enforcing the marching orders issued by President Muhammadu Buhari for the military to crush the deadly terrorists and end their operations in three months.

    The military said: “In series of videos obtained by PRNigeria, Alpha jets and attack helicopters were seen raining explosives on some targeted locations hidden under trees and open warehouses.

    “Unlike the standard bunkers that are fortified chambers built below the ground with reinforced concrete, some of the fortifications destroyed by Nigerian Air Force were not set below the surface of the ground but were mostly covered by logs and tree trunks.

    “The mission is being accomplished by the recent deployments of fighter jets and attack helicopters in the Northeast.”

    The statement said troops had been in high spirit since the bombardment of Boko Haram bunkers began.

    According to the PRNigeria, a senior fighter pilot said:  “The Nigerian Air Force pilots are in high spirit as they even compete to fly the aircraft to defend their fatherland in their aggressive and patriotic determinations to end the Boko Haram ‘rubbish’ as soon as possible.

    “The Chief of Air Staff, Air Marshall Sadique Abubakar had challenged NAF pilots to prove their worth by displaying their skills and expertise in combating enemies from the air.

    “While addressing the pilots recently, Abubakar said the raid would be sustained consistently and aggressively until the insurgency was brought to an end in Nigeria.

    “The Air Force raids commenced after weeks of reconnaissance by surveillance aircraft in the mission area. The deployed F-7NI, Alpha jets and attack helicopters are intended to degrade the fighting capacity of the terrorists.”

     

    Cameroon pledges 2,450 troops

    MORE support came from Cameroon’s President Paul Biyi for the Multinational Joint Task Force (MNJTF) against terrorism with a promise to send 2,450 troops at the weekend.

    The latest pledge announced by President Biya has tripled the initial troops promised to the international force against Boko Haram.

    Boko Haram attacks, including suicide bombings, have mounted over the past year in Cameroon’s north and the Nigeria-based extremist group has also recruited fighters in the country.

    At a meeting in Cameroon in February, Nigeria and the neighbouring countries of Chad, Niger and Benin agreed to deploy around 8,700 troops against Boko Haram, which pledged allegiance to the Islamic State (ISIS) group earlier this year.

    Cameroon initially pledged to contribute 750 troops but the President said the increase followed recommendations from a June summit meeting of regional leaders.

    Deployment of the force has been delayed for lack of funds, but Chadian President Idriss Deby said last week that troops would be deployed within days.

    The force will be based in Chad’s capital, N’Djamena and Gen. Valere Nka, who was serving as Military Attache to Cameroon’s High commission in Abuja, has been appointed second-in-command of the force, Biya said.

  • Air Force bombards Boko Haram bunkers in Sambisa Forest

    Air Force bombards Boko Haram bunkers in Sambisa Forest

    •Troops foil suicide bombing

    Barely 72.hours after President Muhammadu gave a three-month deadline, the Nigerian Air Force yesterday bombarded all Boko Haram bunkers located in the dreaded Sambisa Forest.

    The bunkers might be between 30 and 40 being managed by the sect.

    Also, troops yesterday foiled a suicide bombing attack on Rumirgo Market in Askira Uba Local Government Area of Borno State.

    According to a top military source, who spoke in confidence, the bombardment of the bunkers will be extended to all the camps and cells of the insurgents in Adamawa, Borno and Yobe states.

    The source said: “The Nigerian Air Force has commenced aerial bombardments of hidden bunkers of Boko Haram in Sambisa Forest and other camps or cells in the North-East.

    “The Air Force and ground troops have located many bunkers being managed by the sect. There is no retreat, no surrender again. We are taking the battle to the insurgents.”

    Responding to a question, the source added: “We are talking of 30 to 40 bunkers in Sambisa Forest. Our mission is to smoke out the insurgents from the bunkers.”

    An official statement by the Nigerian Air Force (NAF) confirmed the aerial attacks on Sambisa Forest.

    In a statement by its Director of Public Relations and Information, Air Commodore, Dele Alonge, NAF said the aerial bombardments have degraded the capability of the insurgents.

    The statement said: “The Nigerian Military in its resolution to incapacitate and further degrade the fighting spirit of Boko Haram Terrorist Group (BHT), has carried out several bombings and air strike missions in Sambisa Forest.

    “The strike missions came after several weeks of tactical reconnaissance by the reconnaissance/ surveillance aircraft.

    “The air strikes carried out by F-7NI and Alpha Jet fighter aircraft, as well as attack helicopters have resulted in the degradation of the terrorists capabilities and destruction of some of their strong holds.

    “Intelligence report revealed that as aftermath of the strike missions, the terrorists have been confined and their capabilities greatly reduced, thereby restricting their nefarious activities to small-scale attacks and suicide bombings.

    “The Chief of Air Staff, Air Marshal Sadique Abubakar assures all Nigerians that the air efforts would be sustained until the Boko Haram Activities become a thing of the past.

    “He further stated that, the Nigerian Air Force with their support is willing, able and ready to meet up with current and future security challenges of the nation.”

    Meanwhile, troops yesterday foiled a suicide bombing attack on Rumirgo Market in Askira Uba Local Government Area of Borno State.

    A statement by the Acting Director Army Public Relations, Col. Sani Kukasheka Usman, confirmed the foiling of the suicide mission by troops.

    The statement said: “An attempt by a suicide bomber to attack and wreak havoc at Rumirgo Market in Askira Uba Local Government Area of Borno State on Saturday morning was thwarted by a gallant vigilante group member.

    “The suspected suicide bomber heading to Rumirgo market was accosted by the ever vigilant and security conscious vigilante.

    “In the process of interrogation, the suspected terrorist blew himself off and died on the spot. The vigilante member sustained injuries and has been rushed to hospital for medical treatment by troops.

    “The situation is under control as people go about their normal businesses. The Nigerian Troops have been placed on maximum alert to forestall further attack.

    “We want to seize this opportunity to call on the public to continue to be more vigilant and security conscious.”

  • Insurgency: Air Force to deploy more platforms to Yola

    Insurgency: Air Force to deploy more platforms to Yola

    As the onslaught against the Boko Haram terrorist Boko Haram sect continues, the Chief of Air Staff (CAS) Air Marshal Sadique Abubakar has disclosed that more platforms will be moved to Yola, the Adamawa State capital next week.
    ‎He made the disclosure at the weekend in Lagos, during his maiden tour of Air Force command and units in the state.
    Abubakar who stated that one air craft will be deployed from Lagos to Yola, added that several helicopters will also be moved from Port Harcourt to the northeastern state.
    Noting that a number of aircrafts were patrolling the Nigeria-Cameroon border frequently, Abubakar said the AirForce has on several occasions, intercepted and engaged people who smuggle petroleum products to the insurgents.
    “We have our airplanes that are patrolling the Nigeria-Cameroon border at all times and we have intercepted quite a number of people that are smuggling petroleum products to support the insurgents and we have engaged them on a number of occasions,” Abubakar said.
    He further stated that plans were underway to acquire new equipments as well as rehabilitate those that are moribund.
    The Air Chief said: “‎One of our platforms is moving out of Lagos to Yola by next week and quite a number of our helicopters are moving from Port Harcourt to Yola too.
    “We are already working on acquiring new platforms. There are a number of platforms we want to acquire which we are forwarding to the Federal Government.
    “But at the moment, we are working with the ones we have on ground and trying to reactivate some.‎
    “We are not ill-equipped rather we do not have all that we need to have and we are working to improve on the serviceability of the platforms we have.
    “We have been achieving and working closely with the Nigerian Army using the platforms that we have. They might not be adequate, but we are making the best out of what we have on ground and it is producing results.”

  • How Air Force cut Boko Haram’s supply routes

    How Air Force cut Boko Haram’s supply routes

    The Nigerian Air Force (NAF)  has intercepted supplies to Boko Haram insurgents along Nigeria-Cameroon borders.

    NAF said last night that it seized over 4,000 drums and several plastic containers filled with petroleum products meant for the insurgents.

    NAF spokesman Air Commodore Dele Alonge broke the news in a statement in Abuja.

    The statement reads: “The Nigerian Air Force (NAF) through its intensified and persistent efforts in the ongoing fight against Boko Haram Terrorists (BHT) has intercepted over 4,000 drums and jerry cans of petroleum products and other smuggled items.

    “The items, suspected to be supplies meant for Boko Haram Terrorists (BHT) were confiscated from the smugglers in Pepe, Dashin-Hausa, Belel Bilachi, and Konkul villages, all located on the Nigeria-Cameroon borders on Tuesday, 28 July 2015.

     “The NAF was able to achieve the recent feat through its air patrol activities, covering both land and water, on the Nigeria-Cameroon borders.

    “The NAF has continued to identify and destroy BHT camps and resupplies by employing surveillance and combat aircraft. Intelligence gathered revealed that these efforts have greatly strained the supply efforts of the BHT.”

     There was a massive shake-up yesterday in the hierarchy of the Nigerian Army. Chief of Army Staff (COAS) Maj-Gen. Tukur Buratai appointed new General Officers Commanding (GOCs) for commands and divisions.

    He also named new Principal Staff Officers (PSOs) to manage the Army Headquarters.

    Also appointed were new Corps Commanders, Special Task Forces Commanders, a new Commander for the Multinational Joint Task Force (MNJTF) to tackle Boko Haram, new Brigade Commanders and new Defence Advisers in Nigeria’s foreign missions abroad.

    The Deputy Commandant of the National Defence College, Abuja, Maj-Gen. Adeniyi Oyebade, has been named the GOC, 1 Mechanised Division, Kaduna; Maj-Gen. L.C. Ilo replaces Maj-Gen S.M. Muazu as the GOC 2 Mechanised Division, Ibadan, Oyo State.

    Maj-Gen. Muazu has been moved to Infantry Corps, Jaji as Commander.

    The new GOC, 3 Armoured Division, Jos, Plateau State, is Maj.-Gen. H. Umaru and Maj-Gen M.A Koleoso has been moved to take charge as Commander at the Training and Doctrine Command (TRADOC), Minna, Niger State.

    Maj-Gen Koleoso takes over from Maj-Gen Abayomi Gabriel Olonishakin, who was recently appointed the Chief of Defence Staff (CDS) by President Muhammadu Buhari.

    He was formerly the Director of Administration at the Defence Headquarters.

    Maj-Gen. Edet, formerly the Commandant, Nigerian Army Training Center (NATRAC), Kotangora, has been named new GOC, 81 Division, Lagos.

    Brig-Gen. Ibrahim Attahiru has been moved from 13 Brigade, Calabar, Cross River State, where he was the Brigade Commander, to take charge as the Acting GOC, 82 Division, Enugu.

    He will be taking over from Maj-Gen S. Yusuf, who has been redeployed to Defence Headquarters as Chief of Training and Operations.

    [news_box style=”2″ display=”tag” link_target=”_blank” tag=”Air Force, Boko Haram” count=”6″ show_more=”on” header_background=”#000000″ header_text_color=”#ededed”]

  • Air Force men arrest ‘robber’

    Air Force men arrest ‘robber’

    Officers of the Nigeria Air Force (NAF), Tactical Air Command (TAC) headquarters in Makurdi, Benue State, have arrested a suspected robber at a checkpoint near the NAF main gate in Makurdi.

    The bandit, Emeka Joseph, was arrested with locally-made pistols with eight rounds of 9mm ammunition and a stolen Sienna bus registered as LSD 524 AE.

    Briefing reporters, the Commandant, 35 Base Service Group (BSG), Air Commodore Olusesan Idowu, said the bus was snatched from Mrs. Susan Audu, who left a church near Modern Market in Makurdi.

    He said the suspect was nabbed at the second NAF checkpoint.

    Two pistols with eight rounds of 9mm ammunition was found on him.

    The commandant said the suspect had been handed over to the Special Anti Robbery Squad led by ASP Abu Francis for interrogation and prosecution.

    The 13 NAF men, who apprehended the robber, have been given letters of commendation.

    Air Commodore Idowu presented the letters and urged the officers to do more.

  • Four injured as presidential helicopter crashes in Lagos ‎

    Four injured as presidential helicopter crashes in Lagos ‎

    One of the helicopters in the Presidential fleet on Friday crashed in Lagos injuring all four persons on board.

    The helicopter, a Nigerian Air Force (NAF) Super Puma, carrying two pilots and two passengers, was said to have crashed around 11am at the international wing of the Murtala Muhammed Airport (MMIA).

    Although ‎the NAF claims the aircraft was being used for training, The Nation learnt that it crashed landed immediately after takeoff.

    ‎It was learnt that one of the blades of the helicopter broke, leading to inferno. However, timely response from the emergency agencies stationed at the airport saved the lives of the four occupants, who were immediately taken away by NAF personnel.

    When contacted, the spokesman, National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA) for the southwest, Ibrahim Farinloye said the wreckage of the aircraft has been taken away.

    He said: ” “One of the helicopter in the presidential fleet crashed landed immediately after take off in the MMIA with two pilots and two passengers.”They sustained minor injuries due to the prompt response by emergency responders including that of the Airport fire services.

    “The fire was put out quickly in order to rescue the trapped victims, thus no life was lost. The NAF has since removed the wreckage of the crashed chopper.”‎

    Also reacting to the incident, NAF’s

    Director of Public Relations (DOPRI), Air Commodore DJ Alonge, admitted there was a mishap but stressed that no life was loss. He said, “A Super Puma helicopter belonging to the Nigerian Air Force on training mission in Lagos at about 10am returning to the Apron after the completion of the training exercise suffered severe damage.

    “The damage was due to hydraulic failure in taxi to the hangar. There was no casualty recorded, however, the main rector debris caused damage to some ground equipment.”

    Consequently, the Chief of Air Staff, Air Marshal AN Amosun has ordered immediate investigation to unravel the circumstances that led to the accident

  • Boko Haram war not yet over‎ -Air Force General

    The Chief of Standard and Evaluation, Nigerian Air Force and immediate past Air Officer Commanding (AOC) Training Command of the Nigerian Air‎ Force, Kaduna, AVM Salihu Bala-Riba has said that the war against Boko Haram insurgency is not over yet.

    He said, this is because the insurgents will want to prove that, the incoming regime of General Muhammadu Buhari cannot do any better than the outgoing government in the fight against insurgency.

    AVM Bala-Riba stated this in Kaduna Thursday when he was handing over to the ‎AVM Alkali Mamu as the new Air Officer Commanding (AOC), Training Command, Nigerian Air Force, Kaduna.

    While expressing delight over the President-Elect’s statement that, “Boko Haram will soon see the collective will of all Nigerians”, he reminded officers and men of the armed forces that they are the arrow-head of that collective will, therefore they cannot afford to relax.

    According to him, “I was hard on my subordinates to achieve maximum security and excellence in our responsibilities. I had to be very hard because, I would rather die fighting than to be caught up and killed like a sleeping fowl.

    “You don’t expect me to allow insurgents take over any barrack under Training Command. If that ‎happens, some civilians will faint in their homes, because they look up to the military to defend them,” he said.

    In his remarks, the incoming AOC, AVM Alkali Mohammed Mamu said the outgoing AOC has taught excellent pilots to support the operation of the Nigerian Air Force and to a large extent, has supported the insurgency operation in the North.

    According to him, “AVM Bala-Riba, came in as AOC at a very difficult time when the nation is facing internal security and I am proud to note that, throughout his tenure, there was no any incident at the Training Command,” he said.

    He however assured that, he is going to have a collective leadership and asked that the officers lead their men with a view to sending the air force to the next level.