The Nigerian Air Force (NAF) on Wednesday said it has introduced an Unmanned Combat Aerial Vehicle (UCAV) and L-39ZA fighter aircraft into the ongoing fight against Boko Haram insurgents in the Northeast.
During a press conference in Yola to give an giving an appraisal of the operations of the NAF in the first quarter of 2017, the Air Component Commander (ACC), Operation Lafiya Dole, Air Commodore Charles Owho said the introduction of the new platforms was necessitated by the enlargement of the NAF Area of Responsibility (AOR).
The additional platforms deployed would join the now ageing Alpha jets, F9 jets, Mi 35 helicopters which have been in action since the beginning of the war on the insurgency. Already the UCAV CH-3A has already conducted Air Interdiction on March 27, 2017.
Air Commodore Ohwo also revealed that several Intelligence, Surveillance and Reconnaissance (ISR) operations by the NAF has revealed that following the fall and capture of the insurgents former headquarters in Camp Zairo, most of the fighters fled to the West of Sambisa stretching up to the Southwest of Maiduguri and into Yobe State, while some others had moved to the East and Southeast of Sambisa towards Gwoza Hills and Tagoshe Hills.
Owho said the Air Component of Operation Lafiya Dole has concentrated its air power the areaswith a view to further decimating the remaining BHT elements and facilitating the activities of own surface forces in the area.
In a series of air operations including Air Interdiction, Close Air Support for ground troops, Air Recce, Combat Air Patrol and ISR, the ACC said the Air Component has successfully prevented the regrouping of Boko Haram Insurgents while providing effective air cover for ground troops for clearance operations.
Among the operations conducted by the Air Component was the provision of daily air support for clearance operation in the south-west of Maiduguri at Boko Haram camps in Talala and Ajigin.
At the same location, on February 1, 2017, Alpha jets provided Close Air Support for ground troops to repel an attack from Boko Haram. Also, operations conducted by the troops of 21 brigade of 7 Division also provided ISR for the clearance operations in Ngoshe and Mabila high grounds.
Also, the ISR platform also conducted various operations in Arege, northern Borno where a platoon of Boko Haram insurgents was sighted. “Our ISR aircraft maintained visual over BHTs in Arege and tracked them as shown on the screen. The BHTs took advantage of poor visibility and the terrain to escape imminent air strikes.
“However, the efficient communication of the ISR ac with MNJTF forces eventually led to the dislodgement of the terrorists in a firefight. In this encounter, about 57 terrorists were killed and many injured while technical, weapons and ammo were recovered,” Ohwo said.
Plans are underway by the Nigerian Air Force (NAF) to introduce compulsory and periodic psychiatric test for personnel to prevent cases of suicide.
The service has also moved against meningitis by vaccinating its personnel in the headquarters and other northern states were the disease is prevalent.
The Chief of the Air Staff, Air Marshal Sadiq Abubakar, disclosed this at the presentation of accreditation certificate for 561 Aviation Medicine Department/ cancer awareness lecture held in Lagos on Thursday.
Abubakar, who was represented by the Air Officer Commanding (AOC) Logistics Command, Air Vice Marshal Ibrahim Yahaya, stated that the service has started reviewing procedures and processes of entrance.
He said: “The NAF is reviewing procedures and processes of entrance to forestall incidences of suicide. At the higher echelon, they are looking at the issue from selection and recruitment so that people coming into the service would undertake psychiatric evaluation. They are also looking at paying closer attention to personnel.”
On the recognition of two of its doctors – Squadron Leader Joshua Danji and Wing Commander Alfred Ayodeji- by the Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA) as certified Aero Medical examiners, Abubakar said it was rewarding for the service to achieve the feat, noting that the process commenced seven years ago.
He added: “We have been given certification to examine civil air crew. The two doctors that have been issued seal can give certified medical examination to air crew and it would be recognised internationally.
The Nigerian Air Force (NAF) on Saturday conducted its First Quarter 2017 Route March exercise for officers and men serving in the Federal Capital Territory, (FCT) Abuja.
The exercise which is a quarterly routine March is aimed at keeping the personnel of NAF fit while enhancing the physical and mental alertness of officers and men of the NAF.
The March kicked off at 6:00 a.m at the Mogadishu Military Cantonment (MMC), Asokoro with every rank of the service participating.
It was an “exciting experience” with the Warrant Officers (WO) and Master Warrant Officers (MWO) rank leading the March while the Chief of the Air Staff (CAS), Air Marshall Sadique Baba Abubakar and ranks of Air Commodore and Air Vice Marshal ranks followed from the rear.
The Air Force band marched in the middle and treated the marchers to different tunes to help along.
Members of the National Youth Service Corps also participated fully in the March with some of them describing the exercise as rewarding.
The NAF also made provisions for medical ambulance services which fortunately was not required by anyone.
The March route was through Mogadishu barracks to Niger Barracks and back.
On arrival at MMC, the CAS said such exercises are essential for personnel of the NAF.
His words: ”Today’s challenges are very complex and complicated. It does not only require a sound mind, it equally requires a sound body.
”As a service, we have done our best in ensuring peace everywhere in Nigeria. We want to assure Nigerians that we will continue to work round the clock to ensure that our societies are secured, our communities are safe and Nigerians can go about their normal businesses without fear.”
While assuring the personnel that the NAF will provide their welfare within its available resources, the Naval Chief insisted that every personnel must contribute to the development, security and stability of Nigeria.
He also thanked President Muhammadu Buhari for his support while urging the personnel to give him their absolute loyalty.
A concealed logistics base used by Boko Haram Terrorists have been destroyed by a formation of the Nigerian Air Force (NAF), Alpha and F-7Ni jets.
The logistics base was concealed by fleeing Boko Haram Terrorists (BHTs) in Sambisa who were tracked by NAF Intelligence, Surveillance and Reconnaissance (ISR) aircraft to the location where they had gone to retrieve some items before fighter aircraft were called-in for strike.
According to the Director,Public Relations and Information, Group Captain Ayodele Famuyiwa, the coordinated attack was carried out by a formation of two Alpha Jet and an F-7Ni fighter aircraft while the ISR aircraft remained overhead the target location to guide the attacking aircraft as well as provide battle damage assessment.
“The huge inferno generated by the attack suggests that the target location was either a fuel or ammunition dump as can be seen from the declassified footage of the air strike.
The latest air strike is another major feat in the renewed air effort by the NAF to neutralise the fleeing terrorists as well as decimate their capability to regroup for attack on own surface forces and people within the nearby communities,” he said.
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.
In a series of operations aimed at stopping the regrouping of fleeing Boko Haram insurgents, the Nigerian Air Force (NAF) fighter jet on Saturday successfully intercepted a group of Boko Haram Terrorists (BHT) moving in an Hilux vehicle mounted with anti-aircraft gun.
According to the Director of Public Relations and Information, Group Captain Ayodele Famuyiwa,the armed vehicle was sighted at Talala in Northern Borno by an Intelligence, Surveillance and Reconnaissance (ISR) aircraft on patrol, which then called for strike by combat platform.
Famuyiwa said following the alert, two Alpha Jets were immediately scrambled to the location. “Whereas the insurgents, on sighting the attacking aircraft, fled for cover under nearby trees, the vehicles were attacked and were completely engulfed in an inferno.
“Follow-up battle damage assessment (BDA) by NAF ISR aircraft revealed that the air strike was successful as the vehicles were completely destroyed as shown by the enclosed declassified footage of the operation.”
The NAF has intensified ISR missions over the entire theatre of operation in the North East, especially around Northern Borno.
The objective is to prevent the remnants of the BHT from regrouping with a view to launching attack on own troops on clearance operations as well as people within the host communities.
In a drive to ensure it produces the essential equipment needed for the prosecution of the war on terrorism locally, the Nigerian Air Force (NAF) says it will soon begin the production of Liquid Oxygen for use by combat aircraft.The NAF Chief of Training and Operation (CTOP) Air Vice Marshal (AVM), Abubakar Iya spoke during an operational visit to the 103 Strike Group Yola. He said the Oxygen Plant is in the final stages and would produce various gases that will also be used by hospitals.
Iya said: “This is an operational visit as directed by the Chief of Air Staff (CAS) to the front line in the northeast, we inspected the oxygen plant, it is going to produce the necessary gases for flying and medical facility, it is an all-purpose plant but mainly it will produce liquid oxygen for our combat aircraft and as you can see the plant is almost ready. It can also produce other gases like nitrogen and gaseous oxygen which our hospitals could use, as soon as the plant is ready; it is going to service the entire air force.”
The CTOP also said the plant is being run and managed by local Air Force personnel in the drive to build the capacity of the local engineers. “It is part of our capacity building, the installation process is handled by our own personnel, the production is going to be handled by our own personnel, the company that manufactured the equipment is only coming to inspect to ensure everything is in place according to specification,” Iya said.
Meanwhile, the NAF said it is activating its Forward Operating Base (FOB) in Monguno in order to support the operations of Multi-National Joint Task Force (MNJFT) in Northern Borno, while special operations will also commence to push back the insurgents in that corridor.
The NAF CTOP, AVM Abubakar Iya said the Monguno FOB will also support the helicopter services of the NAF when the special operations begin. “We are going to Monguno to activate our Forward Operation Base so that we can adequately support the Multinational Joint Task Force who is also covering the northern fringes of Borno State, we are embarking on Special Operations very soon, in preparation for that, we want to make sure the Monguno FOB is specially prepared to support our Helicopter operations,” he said.
While assuring that the war on insurgency will soon be won, the CTOP assured that the Air Force will intensify monitoring and surveillance following the recent resurgence of attacks in Maiduguri.
“We will continue to follow them wherever they go, we will maintain constant surveillance and take necessary actions either by informing the ground troops or we have our own independent actions also where we take out any threat we see, wherever they go we are there. The NAF is quite capable, we are doing our best to ensure the problem is taken care of; we are giving maximum support to the land and maritime forces,” he said.
The Nigerian Air Force (NAF) recently conducted a cancer awareness campaign and free screening to mark the opening of business of its brand new cancer screening centre at the 461 NAF Hospital Kaduna. Assistant Editor, Seun Akioye reports.
Those expecting the usual military-styled programme at the ceremony to open the Cancer Screening Centre at the 461 Nigerian Air Force (NAF) Hospital Kaduna were disappointed. Instead of marches and parade, there were doctors and specialists who came to deepen the knowledge of the NAF personnel about cancer.
The Chief of Air Staff (CAS) Air Marshal Sadique Abubakar since assuming office seems to be in a hurry to deliver on his mandate of “re-positioning the NAF as a professional force” which includes training and provision of infrastructure all over NAF bases.
Chief of Medical Services AVM Saley Shinkafi
One of such was the Cancer Screening Centre and Registry which was commissioned on December 19, 2016 and domiciled at the 461 NAF Hospital Kaduna. The establishment of the centre, which was the first of its kind was to “provide a modern facility with the capability for early detection of the most common cancers affecting out personnel and other people in the local community,” said the Chief of Medical Services, Air Vice Marshal Saley Shinkafi.
Although the 461 Hospital is the first cancer screening center there has been an expansion, upgrade and provision of modern, high technology equipment to all of the NAF’s 33 health care facilities and recruitment of specialist manpower to manage them.
The maiden cancer awareness programme which was tagged: “ Kick Cancer out of NAF Bases” according to the Air Chief would be replicated in all NAF bases across the country. The CAS said the health of an individual is one of the most essential pre-requisites for the individual to survive and carry out his duties effectively.
He also noted that: “The cost to the Service could be unimaginable if we neglect the health of our personnel and their families,” while expressing the hope that the cancer screening centers would provide the personnel and the host communities of the NAF bases the opportunity to carry out regular checks in order to detect cancers early enough and prevent untimely consequences of late diagnosis.
A cancer conundrum
Three experts joined the NAF medical personnel in discussing the cancer challenge and the ways to prevent the untimely deaths usually associated with the disease. Dr Monday Yilkudi, a consultant surgeon at the University of Abuja Teaching Hospital, Gwagalada and breast cancer specialist said cancer is an abnormal body cell which “keeps dividing and not under the control of the body.”
Yilkudi said the cause of breast cancer which is one of the most common forms of cancer has not been determined even though there are risk factors that may contribute to its emergence including’ gender, family history, race, early menstruation etc.
There are other lifestyle factors including low physical activity, alcohol consumption, obesity which may contribute to its risk factor. However, early detection which can be accomplished either by screening and or detection by constant physical examination by women is essential to beating the disease.
NAF MRI SCAN
For Dr. Sam Ojah, senior consultant and gynecologist with the Ministry of Defence, cancer of the cervix may be the second most common form of cancer, it is, however, the most deadly with over 270,000 deaths and over 500,000 cases every year.
Cancer which is caused by Human Papilloma Virus (HPV), a sexually transmittable disease affects mainly women and early detection is the only way to survive cancer. However, a third consultant, Dr. Ahmed Mohammed, a consultant at the Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria said prostate cancer is the most common cancer in men but it advances with age.
“Prostate cancer is a disease of men and it is the 6th leading cause of cancer death in the world. It is very rare before the age of 45 and like the other forms of cancer, we do not know the cause,” he said. But there is good news, only one out of 38people diagnosed with the disease will die of it.
One of the remedies of prostate cancer is also an unusual and unwilling treatment by most men; “ As long as men have testicles, they are at risk of prostate cancer so if a man wants to diagnose prostate cancer early, then they should remove the testicles early,” Mohammed said.
This unusual remedy drew laughter from the participants but the doctor was not done yet, one of the unproven remedies is frequent ejaculation to the tune of 20 times a month. This proposition though unproven scientifically drew loud applause from the mainly male audience while the women looked on in disbelief.
A town hall meeting
After the lecture, a town hall meeting between the experts, NAF medical personnel led by AVM Shinkafi and officers and men of the NAF Training Command, Kaduna took place. Many of the women wanted to reconcile preventing Cervical cancer through abstinence from sex and helping their husbands prevent prostate cancer through frequent ejaculation. However, Dr Ojah insisted sexual transmission of cervical cancer is a risk factor when multiple sexual partners are involved.
The Air Officer Commanding, Training Command, Kaduna, Air Vice Marshal Christopher Okoye said the CAS has spent millions of naira on the cancer screening centre and it must be utilised by the personnel. “ The Chief has spent so much to put this together, you must make use of it, the facility is not only for the personnel and their families but for everyone in Kaduna,” Okoye said.
A world class facility
Chief of Medical Services, AVM Shinkafi is never tired of boasting about the NAF cancer screening centre and the world-class facilities it boasts of. He said the centre is part of the general improvement in health care delivery in the NAF. He said there are solid plans to open the cancer centre in all the 33 health care facilities of the NAF in Nigeria.
Cancer doctors; Left SL Kolawole Ogah and FL Brenda Saror
“The Nigerian Air Force has tried to improve our facilities because cancer is becoming a prominent health concern in Nigeria. The Chief of Air Staff felt no area of health care should be left unattended to so we have started addressing the issues of cancer.
“After Kaduna, we are moving to Markudi, Maiduguri and Lagos and our facility can screen for more than three types of cancer including colon, liver etc. In testing for prostate cancer in men, we have a lab using blood sampler that can detect specific antigen in men. In breast cancer , apart from detecting for lumps, we can even do more deeper tests to determine if the lump is cancerous.
“There are other ancillary investigations we can also do and we have the capacity to investigate fully, we can do MRI, CT Scan and arrange specialist investigation, we have all that facility,” Shinkafi said.
Not a few of the officers came for various cancer screening and deeper investigation on breast, prostate and cervical cancer and NAF’s medical personnel including Flight Lieutenant Brenda Saror and Squadron Leader Kolawole Ogah dutifully attended to all cheerfully.
“You have seen the number of the facilities put up by the CAS, it is for the use of the personnel and members of the host community to enjoy. By doing this we are also contributing our part in supporting the national health care delivery,” Shinkafi concluded.
But whichever way one looks at it, cancer is no good news but the doctors insist there is hope with early detection through screening and other methods. And this is what the Air Force is promoting.
The Chairman Kalabalge local government Babagana Malaria has said he was informed that over 200 people have been buried in the recent Airforce operational error in Rann, Borno State.
The Chairman while briefing the Chief of Army Staff Lt. Gen. Tukur Buratai also demanded adequate compensation for survivors of the unfortunate mishap.
“This unwarranted volume of destruction of lives and property calls for federal government intervention by compensation of survivors,” Babagana said.
“Our problem since this local government was created about twenty years now; we need a road to link this headquarters to other parts of the state. The second thing is with what happened now we are begging Mr president to compensate us. Many people have lost their loved ones, most of them are the bread winners.
” About two hundred and thirty four people, it’s not a small number; we need to compensate these people. Yes! Two hundred and thirty four buried by the community. And it’s even more than this the report I received from Maiduguri this morning is that two who are in the hospital have also died therefore we need to be compensated seriously.
” It was the market day yesterday, it was not like the normal market day afterall this is a place were our activities was on a skeletal basis, but it was at the lowest ebb yesterday,” the chairman complained.
Buratai who was in Rann to assess first hand the level of the attack assured the locals not to lose hope in the army, stressing that the incident will not reoccur again.
Nigerian Air Force Augusta LUH and Beechrats jets have begun air surveillance over Gambia in preparation for military action.
The Nation’s reliable source who is embedded with Nigerian forces said the mood of the troops is upbeat and ready.
The troops are currently at Base Aeriene Amee De L’air Senegal where they are supporting other countries to plan logistics in case of a military action.
The source said: “Troops deployed by other countries are stationed in different locations, particularly close to the border between senegal and Gambia for easy advancement in the event of any call for military action.
“We learnt that some diplomatic stuffs are still ongoing, but if it failed there may be deployment of troops and possible air strike on the logistics base of the Jammeh. For now, the land and air component are on full alert and standby.
” The morale of the troops is high with expectation to quell and insurrection in Gambia while our Air assets conducting surveillance over Gambia and neighbouring countries,” he said.
Meanwhile, the Nigerian Air Force (NAF) has constituted a board of senior officers to investigate the accidental air strike on 17 January 2017 at Rann, Borno State.
Among its terms of reference, the Board is to determine the immediate and remote causes as well as the circumstances that led to the incident.
This is with a view to forestall future occurrence. In addition to a list of 20 witnesses given to it, the Board is free to invite other persons to give evidence on oath. The Board is to submit its report not later than 2 February 2017.
2. The 6-man Board is headed by the Chief of Standards and Evaluation, Headquarters Nigerian Air Force (HQ NAF), Air Vice Marshal Salihu Bala-Ribah. Other members are: Air Vice Marshal Charles Oghomwen, Air Commodore Ayoola Jolasinmi, Group Captain Essien Efanga, Wing Commander Solomon Irmiya and Wing Commander Mohammed Muazu.
