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Tag: NAF

  • NAF begins treatment of 4,450 IDPs in Benue

    The Nigerian Air Force (NAF) said on Tuesday it has commenced medical outreach programmes for Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs) in Benue State.

    The NAF Director of Public Relations and Information, Air Vice Marshal Olatokunbo Adesanya, said in a statement the programme which was based on the directive of the Chief of the Air Staff, Air Marshal Sadique Abubakar, is targeting 4,450 IDPs for treatment.

    AVM Adesanya said: ‘The Nigerian Air Force (NAF) on 26 March 2018, flagged off a three-day Medical Outreach Programme for Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs) at the Abagana-Agan IDP camp in Benue State.

    “This followed a directive by the Chief of the Air Staff, Air Marshal Sadique Abubakar, for the NAF Medical Services Branch to conduct the medical outreach for IDPs in the area so as to alleviate their sufferings.

    “Services to be provided during the medical outreach include primary healthcare and curative services, general and eye surgeries, mass deworming as well as provision of medicated glasses and insecticide treated mosquito nets.

    “While speaking during the flagging off ceremony, the Executive Governor of Benue State, Samuel Ortom, who was represented by the Commissioner for Health and Human Services, Dr. Cecilia Omaile Ojabo, lauded the NAF for coming to the aid of IDPs in the state.

    “She noted that the medical intervention by the NAF would go a long way to alleviate the sufferings of the about 170,000 IDPs in the area.

    “Earlier in his remarks, the CAS, who was represented by the Air Officer Commanding Tactical Air Command (AOC TAC) Makurdi, Air Vice Marshal Oladayo Amao, reiterated that the NAF is always mindful and committed towards alleviating health challenges of IDPs in the state and in Nigeria as a whole.

    “At the end of the outreach, it is projected that 4,450 IDPs would have been treated while 70 to 100 general and eye surgeries would have been conducted. The Agan IDP Camp has a population of over 20,000 persons. The NAF medical team is expected back in Abuja on 29 March 2018 .”

  • NAF airlifts troops for ECOWAS operations in Gambia

    The Nigerian Air Force (NAF) said on Monday it has airlifted troops from the Nigerian Army and Nigerian Navy as Nigeria contingents to The Gamba in pursuance of the ongoing ECOWAS Mission in that country.

    The NAF Director of Public Relations and Information, Air Vice Marshal Olatokunbo Adesanya, said in a statement that the troops comprises of officers, soldiers and ratings from 351 Artillery Regimen, Nigerian Army and the Special Boat Services of the Nigerian Navy.

    AVM Adesanya said: “The Nigerian Air Force (NAF) on 25 March 2018, airlifted Nigerian Army and Nigerian Navy contingents to The Gambia in pursuance of the ongoing ECOWAS Mission in Gambia (ECOMIG).

    “The troops who were airlifted by the NAF C-130 Hercules Aircraft included officers, soldiers and ratings from 351 Artillery Regiment NA as well as from the Special Boat Services of the NN.  The troops and other equipment deployed for the operation were airlifted from the Nnamdi Azikwe International Airport Abuja to Banjul in The Gambia.

    “The NAF aircraft is also expected to recover home the Nigerian contingent that had completed their six months tour of duty in The Gambia as stipulated for troops’ rotation in the ECOMIG Operation.

    “It would be recalled that the NAF was the first to deploy to The Gambia in January 2017 as part of the standby force tasked by ECOWAS Heads of State to enforce the December 1, 2016 election mandate which restored Adama Barrow as President.

    “The NAF deployed 200 men and air assets comprising fighter jets, transport aircraft, light utility helicopters as well as Intelligence Surveillance and Reconnaissance (ISR) platforms.

    “The NAF’s timely intervention served as deterrence to the former President Yahya Jammeh who then relinquished power on 21 January 2017 and paved way for the restoration of democracy in the country.”

     

  • NAF explains deployment of sorties

    NAF explains deployment of sorties

    The Nigeria Air Force (NAF) said yesterday that it had not deployed 100 aircraft in the search for the abducted Dapchi schoolgirls.

    Its spokesman Air Vice Marshal (AVM) Olatokunbo Adesanya said in a statement that the number of sorties conducted by NAF while searching for the abducted girls does not “equate the number of aircraft deployed”.

    He said: “The attention of the Nigerian Air Force (NAF) has been drawn to a statement being circulated to the effect that 100 NAF aircraft had been deployed in search of the missing Dapchi girls.

    “While paying a courtesy call on the Executive Governor of Yobe State, in company of the Chief of the Air Staff, on 27 February 2018, “the National Security Adviser, Mohammed Monguno, indeed spoke about the number of sorties so far conducted by NAF aircraft in the course of searching for the missing girls within a stated period.

    “Obviously, the number of sorties does not equate the number of aircraft deployed,” he said.

    During his visit to Yobe State Governor Ibrahim Gaidam on Tuesday, NSA Babagana Munguno, said 20 aircraft already deployed had done 200 hours of sorties.

  • Funds diversion: Ex-NAF chief holds plea bargain talks with EFCC

    Funds diversion: Ex-NAF chief holds plea bargain talks with EFCC

    A former Chief of Air Staff, Air Marshal Adesola Amosu, on Monday told the Federal High Court in Lagos that he was holding plea bargain talks with the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC).

    An investigation officer, Tosin Owobo, had earlier testified that Amosu and two other former Nigeria Air Force (NAF) chiefs allegedly diverted N21billion to their personal accounts from NAF.

    He said they diverted the sum through several companies which they personally incorporated and none of which had any transaction or contract with NAF.

    Owobo was testifying in the trial of Amosu, former NAF Chief of Accounts and Budgeting, Air Vice Marshal Jacob Adigun and a former Director of Finance and Budget, Air Commodore Olugbenga Gbadebo.

    They were arraigned before Justice Mohammed Idris but pleaded not guilty to the charges filed against them.

    An initial plea bargain talks with EFCC broke down after they reportedly refunded about N2billion to the Federal Government.

    EFCC accused them of converting N21billion from NAF through various companies – Delfina Oil and Gas Limited, Mcallan Oil and Gas Limited, Hebron Housing and Properties Company Limited, Trapezites BDC, Fonds and Pricey Limited, Deegee Oil and Gas Limited, Timsegg Investment Limited and Solomon Health Care Limited.

    On Monday, EFCC’s lawyer, Nnaemeka Omewa, told the court that the defence team was currently in talks with the Commission towards reaching a plea bargain agreement.

    “My lord, the defence team met with the prosecution and has proposed terms of settlement. We are still on it, but we are also ready to go on with the trial of the accused persons,” Omewa said.

    Amosu’s lawyer, Chief Bolaji Ayorinde (SAN), confirmed that talks were ongoing, but he sought an adjournment to allow parties conclude with discussions.

    “It is true that parties have met. It is also true that terms have not been fully perfected. Therefore, parties will be willing to come back before the court to report the outcome of our discussions,” he said.

    Owobo had testified that N5.9billion was transferred from NAF accounts to Delfina Oil and Gas Limited.

     

  • Air Force Bombs Boko Haram in Sambisa

    Air Force Bombs Boko Haram in Sambisa

    The Nigerian Air Force ( NAF ) said on Thursday that it has used Remotely Piloted Aircraft (RPA) to destroy and kill a number of Boko Haram terrorists in the Sambisa general area.
    Air Vice Marshal Olatokunbo Adesanya, the NAF’s Director of Public relations and Information made the disclosure in a statement.
    AVM Adesanya who attached a video footage of the operation to the statement, said the operation was done after a routine armed reconnaissance of the area.
    He said: ” A Nigerian Air Force (NAF) remotely piloted aircraft (RPA), on 30 January 2018, successfully destroyed another Boko Haram Terrorists (BHT) gun truck in the SAMBISA general area.
    “The NAF RPA sighted the gun truck around ALAFA while on a routine armed reconnaissance of the area, following the dislodgement of the insurgents from Camp ZAIRO.
    “The RPA picked up the trail of the gun truck until it arrived at ALAFA, where it was subsequently attacked.
    “The air strike by the NAF RPA resulted in the immediate destruction of the vehicles in the targeted location, killing all the BHTs inside it, as no survivors were seen scampering from the location after impact”.
  • NAF kills Boko Haram fighters in Sambisa

    NAF kills Boko Haram fighters in Sambisa

    The Nigerian Air Force (NAF) said on Monday it used a Remotely Piloted Aircraft (RPA) to neutralize scores of Boko Haram terrorists in Sambisa general area.

    NAF added that the air strikes also led to destruction of artillery guns and gun trucks belonging to the terrorists.

    The NAF Director of Public Relation and Information, Air Vice Marshal Olatukunbo Adesanya, in a statement supported with video footage of the operation, said the use of the remotely piloted aircraft followed the deployment of an Intelligence Surveillance and Reconnaissance (ISR) platform confirming the presence of insurgents in the area.

    The statement reads: “A Nigerian Air Force (NAF) Remotely Piloted Aircraft (RPA), on 27 January 2018, successfully destroyed an artillery gun and some gun trucks belonging to the Boko Haram Terrorists (BHTs) in the Sambisa Forest.

    “A NAF Intelligence Surveillance and Reconnaissance (ISR) platform and the RPA had observed the terrorists withdrawing with the artillery gun and gun trucks after an unsuccessful operation.

    “The NAF crews on both the ISR and the armed RPA trailed the withdrawing insurgents to their final destination in Parisu.

    “Thereafter, the RPA acquired the artillery gun position and attacked the piece, causing a huge explosion and destroying the equipment.

    “The explosion also killed insurgents operating the equipment and those around it while a few others were sighted fleeing from the site of the explosion.

    “The successful air strikes are part of the ongoing coordinated air and land operations aimed at ridding the Sambisa forest of the remnants of the insurgents.”

     

  • Expect more aerial patrol in Lagos, others – NAF

    Expect more aerial patrol in Lagos, others – NAF

    The Nigerian Air Force ( NAF ) on Monday said there would be increased aerial patrols within the South West to prevent criminality.

    The Air Officer Commanding (AOC), Logistics Command, Air Vice Marshal Nnamdi Ekeh, stated this during an interview with journalists at the command’s headquarters in Lagos.

    Ekeh, who took over headship of the command from AVM Ibrahim Yahaya, assured that the NAF was committed to improved security across the country.

    According to him, efforts were ongoing for the induction of additional air assets.

    Ekeh said: “You will recall that just recently, the Chief of Defence Staff, Gen. Gabriel Olonisakin, was here to inaugurate one of Nigerian Air Force’s platforms, an helicopter. These are parts of the efforts the Force is doing to ensure that security issues are taken care of.

    “So the Air Force is coming with additional platforms to ensure that we put in more efforts and this means that there will be increased aerial patrols within our Area of Responsibility (AOR).

    Ekeh solicited cooperation from officers in the command, assuring them that they would work as a family to achieve set goals.

    According to him, that would sustain the tempo of successes recorded under his predecessor.

    Yahaya, who has been appointed the Chief of Administration, NAF headquarters, said the challenges of the command were enormous but could be surmounted.

    He said: “The challenges I met on my assumption of office 13 months ago were quite enormous. From accommodation problems to deteriorating barrack infrastructure and so on.

    “These situations were overwhelming but the marvelous cooperation I enjoyed from my commanders and continuous support from the NAF headquarters helped us to record remarkable achievement.

    “Though we have recorded some modest achievements within this period, there are still a lot of challenges, which I believe that the new AOC is very competent to handle.”

     

  • …. NAF bombs Boko Haram

    …. NAF bombs Boko Haram

    The Nigerian Air Force said at the weekend that scores of Boko Haram terrorists have been neutralised in the Sambisa general area with fighter aircrafts as the terrorists tried to interfere with ongoing operations with the ground troops.

    A statement by the Director of Public Relations and Information of the NAF, Air Vice Marshal Olatokunbo Adesanya, said NAF operations against the terrorists followed an Intelligence Surveillance and Reconnaissance (ISR) platform indicating the presence of the terrorists in the area.

    AVM Adesanya said: “The Nigerian Air Force (NAF) fighter aircraft, on 25 January 2018, successfully neutralised several Boko Haram Terrorists (BHTs), who were poised to interfere with ongoing operations in the Sambisa general area.

    “A NAF Intelligence Surveillance and Reconnaissance (ISR) platform had sighted several BHTs on vehicles and gun trucks, which were carefully concealed in a forested area. Consequently, three NAF fighter aircraft were detailed to provide Close Air Support to own surface forces, which also engaged the insurgents.

    “The fighter aircraft launched a bomb attack on the insurgents’ defensive positions while another wave of bomb attacks was launched at the insurgents’ gun trucks and vehicles, causing one of them to go up in flames.

    “Thereafter, one of the aircrafts strafed a fleeing BHTs vehicle with rockets, destroying the gun truck in the process. The NAF aircraft’s mission destroyed not only the vehicles but also the workshop previously used by the insurgents to repair and retrofit their vehicles and equipment”.

     

  • NAF bombs Boko Haram in Sambisa

    NAF bombs Boko Haram in Sambisa

    The Nigerian Air Force, NAF ,  said at the weekend that scores of Boko Haram Terrorists have been neutralized in the Sambisa general area with fighter aircrafts as the terrorists tried to interfere with ongoing operations with the ground troops.
    A statement by the Director of Public Relations and Information of the NAF, Air Vice Marshal Olatokunbo Adesanya , said NAF operations against the terrorists followed an Intelligence Surveillance and Reconnaissance (ISR) platform indicating the presence of the terrorists in the area.
    AVM Adesanya said : “The Nigerian Air Force (NAF) fighter aircraft, on 25 January 2018, successfully neutralized several Boko Haram Terrorists (BHTs), who were poised to interfere with ongoing operations in the Sambisa general area.
    “A NAF Intelligence Surveillance and Reconnaissance (ISR) platform had sighted several BHTs on vehicles and gun trucks, which were carefully concealed in a forested area. Consequently, three NAF fighter aircraft were detailed to provide Close Air Support to own surface forces, which also engaged the insurgents.
    “The fighter aircraft launched a bomb attack on the insurgents’ defensive positions while another wave of bomb attacks was launched at the insurgents’ gun trucks and vehicles, causing one them to go up in flames.
    “Thereafter, one of the aircraft strafed a fleeing BHTs vehicle with rockets, destroying the gun truck in the process. The NAF aircraft’s mission destroyed not only the vehicles but also the workshop previously used by the insurgents to repair and retrofit their vehicles and equipment”.
  • UNN seeks partnership with Nigerian Air Force on training

    UNN seeks partnership with Nigerian Air Force on training

    University of Nigeria, Nsukka ( UNN ) is seeking partnership with Nigerian Air Force ( NAF ) on training, Research and Development (R & D) to support the service in the discharge of its responsibilities.

    The Vice-Chancellor, Prof Benjamin Ozumba, made the plan known when he paid a courtesy visit to the Chief of the Air Staff (CAS), Air Marshal Sadique Abubakar, at NAF Headquarters, Abuja.

    The Director of Public Relations and Information, NAF Headquarters, AVM Olatokunbo Adesanya, made the fact known in a statement  in Abuja on Thursday.

    During the visit, Ozumba said the university decided to partner NAF because of its giant strides in R & D and the consistent display of professionalism in the discharge of its responsibility, Adesanya said.

    He commended NAF for its efforts toward attaining self-reliance, adding that NAF was one of the government agencies that were in tune with the changes in the 21st Century.

    According to him, the world has gone beyond the era of commodity driven economy to knowledge-based economy.

    Ozumba commended the efforts of the current NAF leadership toward improving the knowledge base of its personnel through sustained R & D activities.

    Read Also: UNN  set to establish $7m Science Park in Africa

    “Therefore, I reiterated the readiness and capability of the institution to collaborate with NAF in all aspects of R & D to ensure that the service continued to successfully accomplish its constitutional tasks.

    “UNN has been consistently ranked Number one in the Google Scholarly Search in West Africa, for the past three years, a testimony of the university’s commitment to academic endeavours,” he said.

    Ozumba said arrangement had been concluded by the university to establish a science park toward advancing technological knowledge.

    He used the opportunity to invite NAF to be part of the institution’s Innovation Conference scheduled for February.

    In his remarks, Abubakar  said that NAF would also partner UNN in the area of aircraft maintenance, building technology and other relevant fields.

    The CAS added that the service had identified the need to partner with academic institutions in Nigeria more than five years ago.

    He said NAF had already signed a Memoranda of Understanding with 15 other Nigerian universities, adding that the partnerships had started yielding benefits, especially in the enhancement of NAF’s aircraft maintenance capacity.

    Abubakar expressed the readiness of NAF to participate in the establishment of the science park at UNN and promised that NAF would be  represented at the Innovation Conference.

    Abubakar  directed that a team of relevant NAF personnel from NAF Research and Development Centre and NAF Institute of Technology, Kaduna,   be composed to visit UNN.

    He explained that the visit would help identify  specific areas of potential partnership between both organisations.

    NAN