Tag: NAF

Nigerian Air Force School of Finance and Accounts (NAFSFA) graduated 61 finance officers, airmen and airwomen.

Chief of Air Staff, Air Marshal Hassan Abubakar, guest of honour, said the training would improve prepare them for the tasks ahead.

He said: ‘’This graduation marks milestones and commencement of new chapters in your careers as finance officers and account clerks.

Read Also: Hunger protest: North tolerated too much poverty, corruption – Shettima

“As you stand on the threshold of this new chapter, it is expected that this training reflects in your performances.’’

Abubakar, represented Air Vice-Marshal Uchechi Nwagwu, chief of Accounts and Budget (NAF), urged graduating officers to shun clamour for regime change.

Airstrikes by the Nigerian Air Force (NAF) aircrafts have destroyed 13 illegal refineries, 10 overhead tanks and several gallons along Obuzor and Okoloma communities of Rivers state.

NAFs spokesperson, Air Vice Marshal (AVM) Edward Gabkwet, said this in a statement on Sunday, August 11.

AVM Gabkwet said while the criminal elements dispersed in disarray after sighting the aircrafts, a six-tyre truck and canoes belonging to the oil thieves were also destroyed by the strikes.

He said after the strikes, the crew continued their patrol over the Trans Niger Pipeline from Rumuekpe-Nkpoku to Bonny line but no unusual activity was observed.

The areas the crew extended their patrol in the Bonny line, according to him, are End Point, Bodo trunk line, Point, Small line attachment, Nkpoku-New Ebubu Trunkline and Rumuekpe-Nkpoku.

Read Also: NAF airstrikes kill several terrorists, destroy IED factory in Borno

He said: “Even as efforts have been ramped up to curtail the activities of oil thieves and economic saboteurs in their illegal and nefarious acts of bursting oil pipelines and siphoning crude oil or its products, the rate at which illegal oil refining sites continue to spring up requires drastic measures. 

“In line with this, the Air Component of Operation Delta Safe has increased its rate of patrol, especially within the Niger Delta region, with the aim of locating illegal oil refining sites and destroying them.”

Airstrikes by the Nigerian Air Force (NAF) aircraft have killed several terrorists at Grazah, a location within the Mandara Hills in Borno State.

The strikes also destroyed the terrorists’ Improvised Explosive Device (IED) factory and two gun trucks, according to NAF’s spokesperson, Air Vice Marshal Edward Gabkwet, in a statement on Thursday, August 8.

According to AVM Gabkwet, the strike was conducted on August 2, after intelligence that revealed a possible terrorist’ IED factory and logistics base in the area.

Read Also: NAF strikes destroy 70 illegal refineries in three months

AVM Gabkwet said: “For some time now, this IED factory was suspected to have been relocated, first from Gwoza to Timbuktu Triangle in Sambisa Forest and finally berthing at Grazah in the Mandara Hills.

“The frequent relocation of the IED factory has been attributed to the enormous firepower on terrorists’ enclaves by the combined efforts of the entire security apparatus of Operation Hadin Kai.

“The IED factory location at Grazah had been under surveillance for weeks with various installations observed and activities of armed terrorists in the area found to be consistent with those protecting a strategic location. Additionally, two gun trucks were sighted tucked under a large tree near the suspected IED factory.”

The NAF’s spokesperson said the findings necessitated the need for an air strike on the location.

Airstrikes by the Nigerian Air Force (NAF) aircrafts destroyed 70 illegal refineries and 80 overhead tanks in the past three months.

The Chief of Air Staff, Air Marshal Abubakar, said this on Wednesday, July 31, when he played host to the National Coordinator of Messrs New Guard Security and Consulting Limited, Maj-Gen Jamil Sarham (rtd), at the NAF Headquarters, Abuja.

Speaking on the current state of oil production in Nigeria, Air Marshal Abubakar emphasized the severe negative impact of oil theft and pipeline vandalism on Nigeria’s oil output, which he said have led to a decline in crude oil production and revenue losses to the country.

Air Marshal Abubakar said it was in response to these that President Bola Tinubu mandated the military to eradicate the scourge.

Read Also: NAF strikes destroy 12 illegal refineries in Abia, Rivers

He said: “Over the past year, the NAF has conducted 463 sorties in 560 flight hours and expended 175,000 litres of Jet A-1 fuel in air operations over the Niger Delta region.” 

The air chief said in bolstering these efforts, the NAF had deployed newly acquired platforms to the region to enable the NAF to “cover more grounds as it liaises with other security agencies in degrading the activities of these criminals in the region.” 

He congratulated General Sarham and his team on their appointment, adding that the team’s exceptional military background and their synergy with security agencies in addressing the challenges of crude oil theft would add bite to the ongoing efforts. 

Strikes by the Nigerian Air Force (NAF) aircraft have destroyed 12 illegal refining sites and two reservoirs in Abia and Rivers states, NAF spokesperson Air Vice Marshal (AVM) Edward Gabkwet confirmed yesterday.

In a statement, the Air Force spokesman said the airstrikes were carried out over the weekend.

According to AVM Gabkwet, armed reconnaissance undertaken by the aircraft revealed several illegal refining sites situated in many fenced households in Umueze, Abia State.

He said the information from the armed reconnaissance was subsequently relayed to ground troops for further exploitation and action.

The statement reads: “Heading towards Owaza, three illegal refining sites were observed hidden under thick vegetation, which were subsequently destroyed.

“Thereafter, the crew followed the river line down to Komkom and Okoloma in Rivers State, where nine illegal refining sites and two reservoirs were discovered and destroyed. In total, 12 illegal refining sites and two reservoirs were destroyed.”

Read Also: NAF strikes destroy six illegal refineries, five boats in Rivers

AVM Gabkwet said the sighting of illegal refining sites in fenced living environments by oil thieves was “indicative of the sophistry of the illegal oil refining trade that would require other means beyond air strikes to checkmate.”

He added: “Those engaged in these acts, especially in fenced living environments, are again reminded of their danger to human lives and health as well as the environment.

“However, armed reconnaissance missions as well as destruction of illegal refining sites will continue unabated until crude oil theft and other forms of economic sabotage are reduced to the barest minimum.”

Airstrikes by the Nigerian Air Force (NAF) aircraft have destroyed three illegal refining sites and seven overhead tanks in the Wilcourt area in River State.

The strikes also arrested four boats and five suspected oil thieves were arrested.

NAF’s spokesperson, Air Vice Marshal Edward Gabkwet, announced this in a statement on Sunday, June 30.

He said the operation was part of efforts of riding the Niger Delta region of oil thieves as economic saboteurs

Gabkwet said: “In most cases, oil thieves in the Niger Delta region have continued to find new ways of concealing their overhead tanks used in storing stolen crude oil products from busted pipelines just as they have continued to infuse the use of fast speed boats to convey their stolen goods.

“Unfortunately for these criminals, the NAF and other security agencies have also up their game with modern technology and hardware that enables them to detect and deter the activities of these enemies of the state.”

Read Also: NDLEA intercepts N7.35bn codeine consignments in  Port Harcourt

Also giving update successes in the North West, the NAF’s spokesperson said the air component of Operation Hadarin Daji killed nine terrorists during air interdiction in Munya Local Rea of Niger State.

He said the terrorists were struck after a tip-off that they were hibernating at Dandunu village after rustling cattle from communities around the Kuchi-Kapana axis in Munya LGA of Niger State.

Gabkwet said: “The NAF subsequently deployed its air assets to scan the area which led to the interception of the terrorists on nine motorcycles leading the rustled cattle. In several passes, the motorcycle-riding terrorists were struck by the aircraft, and most of them were eliminated in the process.

“The feedback from locals around the location has so far been positive, with most of them being able to recover the rustled cattle and return to their livelihood.”

Airstrikes by the Nigerian Air Force (NAF) aircrafts have destroyed 13 illegal refining sites and seven Cotonou boats in Rivers, Bayelsa and Imo states.

The airstrikes also destroyed five J-5 buses attempting to siphon stolen crude oil from surface tanks.

NAF’s spokesperson, Vice Marshal Edward Gabkwet who announced this in a statement on Sunday, June 23, said the airstrikes were carried out between June 18 to 22.

He said: “Some of the illegal sites were discovered near Imo River on 18 June 2024 with 7 overhead tanks, which were subsequently destroyed while several suspected bunkerers were seen fleeing. Air strikes were also extended to Wilcourt in Rivers State on 19 June 2024 after an illegal site and canoe filled with illegally refined products, as well as some gun boats, were seen.

“Similarly, following Intelligence of some illegal refining sites located about 6km from Tunu in Bayelsa State, the aircrew proceeded to the location to identify and destroy the site, a task carried out with the utmost precision.

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“Another significant strike undertaken by the air component was carried out on 22 June 2024, when the crew spotted 5 x J5 buses, probably reconfigured into mini tankers, at the bank of Imo River attempting to siphon illegally refined products. Amazed at this change of tactics by these economic saboteurs, the crew did not hesitate to immediately destroy the illegal refining sites feeding the buses.The J5 buses were later seen dispersed with some taking cover under trees to avoid detection.”

The NAF’s spokesperson said airstrikes against “economic saboteurs and oil thieves have continued to record the expected outcomes majorly due to improved intelligence, enhanced air to ground coordination, and most importantly, due to NAF’s improved agility and resilience.”

He said the operations would be sustained “until the activities of these saboteurs are reduced to the barest minimum.”

The Chief of Air Staff (CAS), Air Marshal Hassan Abubakar, has said that the withdrawal of United Nations Multidimensional Integrated Stabilization Mission Force and the 2000 Chadian troops from Mali as well as troops of Republic of Niger from the Multinational Joint Task Force (MNJTF) is a security threat to Nigeria and the entire Sahel Region.

He also said that the upsurge in coup d’etat in the West African sub-region as well as the withdrawal of some nations from the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) have negative impacts on the collective regional security architecture of the region.

The air chief said these security situations had caused the influx of more weapons and terrorists into Nigeria. 

Abubakar spoke during his meeting with Branch Chiefs, Air Officers Commanding, Directors, Commandants and Commanders at Headquarters NAF, Abuja.

The meeting was aimed at revisiting NAF’s set objectives in line with the CAS command philosophy and key enablers, discuss performance and achievements and identify challenges. 

Read Also: NAF airstrikes destroy terrorists’ leaders’ camps

A statement by NAF’ spokesperson, Air Vice Marshal Edward Gabkwet, quoted the Air Marshal Abubakar as saying that “these security situations had necessitated the need for the NAF and other security agencies to be proactive and intensify efforts at meeting the Federal Government and Nigerian citizens’ expectations for an expeditious actualization of a peaceful, safe and secure nation for prosperity to thrive.”

The air chief noted that despite these threats, the NAF has, in the last 12 months, re-strategized and adopted new air power measures to enhance the gains against identified threats. 

He said these strategic measures had led to modest and significant progress in various operational areas, including the fight against insurgency, terrorism, banditry, and oil theft. 

The CAS said despite NAF’s achievements, the prevailing economic challenges, such as high youth unemployment, increasing inflation, and multidimensional poverty, have exacerbated the security situation, which he said had made it “imperative for the NAF to continuously adapt and improve.”

Abubakar commended the efforts of NAF personnel and expressed gratitude for their support since he assumed office.

He said: “The NAF, so far, has achieved modest yet significant progress in fighting insurgency, terrorism, banditry, oil theft, and other criminal activities in the country. 

“Therefore, I wish to use this opportunity to commend you all for your efforts. I also sincerely thank you for your support over the last 12 months since my assumption of office.”