Tag: NAF

The Nigerian Air Force (NAF) has denied the reported bombing of villagers in Igabi Local Government Area of Kaduna State, which according to local sources led to the death of 30 villagers.

The incident, according to the locals occurred around 9:00 pm on Sunday when the people of Tudun Biri were celebrating Maulud Nabbiy, saying that suddenly a NAF jet dropped a bomb on them, killing not less than 30 people.

While the commissioner overseeing the Kaduna State Ministry of Internal Security and Home Affairs, Samuel Aruwan said the government would address the media after its Security Council meeting, the Air Force issued a statement denying its involvement in the air strike.

A statement signed by NAF Director of Public Relations and Information, Air Commodore Edward Gabkwet, said the Air Force has not carried out any air operation in Kaduna state in the last 24 hours.

The statement read: “The news making the rounds alleging that Nigerian Air Force (NAF) aircraft accidentally killed innocent civilians in Kaduna is false.

Read Also: UPDATED: Five survive as NAF helicopter crash-lands in Port Harcourt

“Please be informed that the NAF has not carried out any air operations within Kaduna State and environs in the last 24 hours.

“Also, note that the NAF is not the only organization operating combat armed drones in the Northwestern region of Nigeria.

“It is also important to ensure that due diligence is always exhausted by the media before going to press with unverified and unconfirmed reports. Thank you.”

The Nigerian Air Force (NAF) has winged 12 additional pilots to enhance the ongoing counter-terrorism and counter-insurgency operations in some parts of the country.

The pilots were winged yesterday at Basic Flying Course 20 at the 403 Flying Training School (FTS) in Kano.

The Chief of Air Staff (CAS), Air Marshal Hasan Abubakar, who performed the winging, urged the pilots to sustain the successes recorded in the various theatres of operation to justify the efforts and resources the country invested in their training.

The CAS said the NAF had continued to conduct independent and joint operations aimed at decimating the criminals and denying them freedom of action.

He said the air force had also shaped the operational environment in the various theatres, adding that the achievements could “only be sustained with the injection of new and vibrant pilots to add energy and bite to the operations”.

Abubakar noted that the winging ceremony was significant, “coming at a time when the NAF has immensely benefited from the Federal Government’s determination to provide necessary platforms and equipment in the fight against terrorism, insurgency and other forms of criminality”.

The CAS said the acquisition of new platforms had consequences on manpower, training, and operating costs. 

Read Also: NAF wings 12 pilots to fight terrorists, others

This challenge, he said, is further exacerbated by the anticipated arrival of an array of new platforms such as the M-346, AH-1Z, A-109 Trekker, and the remaining T-129 ATAK helicopters. 

According to him, for NAF to bridge the manpower gaps, a three-year training plan from next January must be sustained amid the availability of funding.

“It was in view of this projection that the graduation of the Basic Flying Course 20 was gladdening, as it serves to bridge the pilot deficiency gap,” Abubakar said.

The NAF boss said the current security environment has remained fluid and unpredictable due to threats posed by terrorists in the North, secessionist groups in the Southeast, crude oil theft in the Southsouth, as well as an upsurge in banditry and kidnapping activities across the country. 

He advised the newly wing pilots to continually strive to elevate the NAF to greater heights. 

The Nigerian Air Force (NAF) has winged 12 additional pilots to enhance the ongoing counter-terrorism and counter-insurgency operations in some parts of the country.

The pilots were winged on Thursday, November 23, at Basic Flying Course-20 at the 403 Flying Training School (FTS), Kano.

Performing the winging ceremony, Chief of Air Staff (CAS), Air Marshal Hasan Abubakar, charged the pilots to justify the efforts and resources the country invested in their training by contributing their best towards sustaining the successes recorded in the various theatres of operation.

Air Marshal Abubakar said the NAF has continued to conduct independent and joint operations aimed at not only decimating the criminals and denying them freedom of action but also shaping the operational environment in the various theatres, which he said could “only be sustained with the injection of new and vibrant pilots to add energy and bite to the operations.”

The NAF’s chief noted that the winging ceremony was significant, “coming at a time when the NAF has immensely benefited from the Federal Government’s determination to provide necessary platforms and equipment in the fight against terrorism, insurgency and other forms of criminality.”

According to him, the acquisition of new platforms comes with the attendant consequences on manpower, training, and operating costs.

This challenge, he said, is further exacerbated by the anticipated arrival of an array of new platforms such as the M-346, AH-1Z, A-109 Trekker, and the remaining T-129 ATAK helicopters.

He said for NAF to bridge the manpower gaps currently experienced, a 3-year training plan to commence in January 2024 must be sustained amid the availability of funding.

He noted: “It was in view of this projection that the graduation of the Basic Flying Course 20 was gladdening, as it serves to bridge the pilot deficiency gap.”

The NAF’s chief said the current security environment has remained fluid and unpredictable due to threats posed by terrorists in the North, secessionist groups in the South East, crude oil theft in the South-South, as well as an upsurge in banditry and kidnapping activities across the entire country.

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

He, therefore, changed the new wing pilots to continually strive to elevate the NAF to greater heights.

Earlier in his remarks, the Air Officer Commanding Air Training Command, Air Vice Marshal Nnamdi Ananaba, said: “Beyond merely producing qualified pilots for the NAF, the objective of the flying course is to produce pilots that are significantly knowledgeable to operate the new and highly technical platforms being inducted into the NAF.”

 Air Vice Marshal Ananaba said the addition of 12 fast jet pilots to NAF’s inventory is a significant boost to its preparedness to receive and operate the significant number of platforms expected to be inducted into service.

Air strikes by the Nigerian Air Force (NAF) fighters jets have killed several terrorists and destroyed four gun trucks in Ajigin and Banki Junction areas located in Borno State. 

The air strikes also destroyed terrorists’ enclaves situated 1.9km South of Ajigin.

NAF’s spokesperson, Air Commodore Edward Gabkwet, said this in a statement on Sunday November 12.

Gabkwet said the terrorists had hidden  four gun-trucks under thick shrubs and perfected plans to attack military locations around Damboa and Wajiroko.

He said: “During the air strike conducted on November 8, three   of the gun-trucks were struck, as evidenced by the thick black smoke and fire from the trucks after the strike, while the last gun-truck was observed fleeing the scene of the strike. 

“The truck was subsequently tailed for about 26 Km and thereafter disappeared under a tree. The truck was subsequently struck and observed to be on fire with no sign of movement at the location. 

“The destruction of the 4 gun trucks, along with the occupants, effectively degraded the capability of the terrorists to attack friendly forces and locals within the area.”

The  NAF’s  spokesperson said air interdiction missions were also conducted at a location 7km East of Banki Junction on 11 November 2023.

According to him,  the location was a well-known terrorists’ enclave hitherto deserted but suddenly active with high terrorists’ activities and used as a logistics storage area and staging area to attack troops locations at Bank Junction. 

Read Also: NAF airstrikes hit terrorists’ hideout in N/East, N/West

“The need to attack the location thus became necessary. Accordingly, NAF aircraft were scrambled to interdict the location. The aftermath of the strike revealed the destruction of the location with the logistics sites on fire,” Gabkwet said. 

He said the terrorists have continued to be at the receiving end, due to strong fire power from the military, which he said has denied terrorists hiding place and weaken their capability to attack soft targets.

“Indeed, the inability of these terrorists to move freely and at will is also attributed to the effectiveness of the operational jointness exhibited, especially by the air and ground troops, which should be commended,” Gabkwet said.