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Tag: Nigerian Air Force

  • Navy arrests 11 suspected fake personnel

    Navy arrests 11 suspected fake personnel

    Commodore Sanusi Ibrahim, the out-going Commander of the Nigerian Navy Ship (NNS) Pathfinder, Port Harcourt, said on Wednesday that 11 suspects were arrested for allegedly parading themselves as naval personnel.

    Handing over the suspects to the Rivers Police Command in Port Harcourt, Ibrahim said the men used navy uniforms and paraded themselves as personnel of the Merchant Navy with intent to defraud unsuspecting individuals and companies.

    According to him, the suspects were caught in the act by operatives of the Nigerian Air Force who reported the matter to the navy.

    “On June 17, the Air Police of the 97 Special Operations Group, Nigerian Air Force Port Harcourt, arrested 11 civilians around Rukpokwu police checkpoint parading themselves as naval personnel.

    “The air police later handed over the suspects to us (navy) to enable us conduct investigation to ascertain if they were truly naval personnel among other details.

    “During investigation, the suspects claimed that they were members of the merchant navy.

    “Further findings revealed the organisation was fictitious.

    “This is because there is no extant law in the country backing any organisation with the name or sobriquet of merchant navy,” he said.

    Ibrahim, represented by Lt.-Cdr. Ayi Archinbong, Regulating Officer of NNS Pathfinder, said the organisation was fictitious and had been operating illegally in Port Harcourt for a long period of time.

    He said the group’s activities had tarnished the image of the navy, adding that troops were currently on the trail of leaders of the organisation to bring them to justice.

    “The effect of this fictitious group on the navy is that when they commit an offence, the public will think they are genuine naval officers not knowing that they are fake,” he said.

    Ibrahim urged the public to provide information to security agencies that would lead to the arrest of criminals, assuring that the identity of the informant would be kept in utmost confidentiality.

    The suspects were later handed over to the Criminal Investigation Department of the Rivers Police Command for further investigation and possible arraignment in court.

  • Military retires 464 soldiers

    Military retires 464 soldiers

    The Nigerian military Friday retired 464 personnel from active service.

    The soldiers comprising 449 from the Nigerian Army (NA), two from the Nigerian Navy (NN) and 13 from the Nigerian Air Force were hosted to a passing out ceremony held at the Nigerian Armed Forces Resettlement Centre (NAFRC) in Oshodi, Lagos.

    In his farewell remarks to the personnel, Defence Minister, Brig.-Gen. Mohammed Dan-Ali (rtd) urged them to collaborate with their colleagues still in service to contain militancy across the country.

    Dan-Ali who was represented by the Director Army, Ministry of Defence, Mrs. Iro Ikenga also urged them to put to good use, the skills they have acquired in the six months they have undergone trainings at NAFRC.

    He said: “You all know that the issue of security of our country in recent times is at its critical stage, as the military is now contending with insurgents in the North-east.

    “As retiring members of the armed forces, a lot is still required of you wherever you find yourselves in the aspect of collaborations with serving members of the Armed Forces.

    “You might also be required to collaborate with other security agencies of our father land to completely eradicate this threat of insurgency. And other criminal activities in our society.”

    Continuing, the Minister said the government has made adequate plans to ensure ex-servicemen have hitch free resettlement, urging them to prudently manage their retirement benefits.

    “The government has continued to vigorously pursue a policy of due process, aimed at ensuring transparency, accountability and rule of law. This in no doubt will culminate in the transformation of all spheres of our national life.

    “You must uphold the highest standards of conduct, character, integrity, excellence, service and team work. As worthy ambassadors of the service, you will be held accountable for these standards even in retirement.

    “You must therefore spread these values and virtues wherever you find yourselves,” he said.
    In his address, NAFRC’s Commandant, Air Vice Marshal Mike Iloenyosi urged the retirees to be circumspect, as the society in which they are transiting to would expect much from them.

    “You will be required to prove your worth in the way you relate within the community where you reside.
    “For those of you that will go back to your country homes, you must be interested and be involved in any security arrangement within your community. This is in view of the internal security challenges plaguing our country,” he said.

    At the event were the Commander, Nigerian Army Medical Corps, Major General Abimbola Amusu and Commander, Nigerian Navy Ship (NNS) BEECROFT, Commodore Abraham Adaji, among other senior officers.

  • NCSDC, Airforce team up against vandals, oil thieves

    The Bayelsa State commands of the Nigerian Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC) and the Nigerian Air Force, Wednesday, formed an alliance against pipeline vandals, oil thieves, kidnappers and other related crimes in the state.

    The Air Officer, Commanding, Mobility Command, Air Vice Marshal Emmanuel Agungu, and the state Commandant, NSCDC, Mr. Desmond Agu, met at the corps’ command base Yenagoa, the state capital, and agreed to form a synergy in crime fighting.

    Agungu who was newly posted to the state visited his counterpart in the company of air officers demanding partnership to effectively combat oil thieves, vandals and kidnappers.

    Receiving his guests in company with other senior NSCDC officers, Agu said all the security agencies were established in the state by the Federal Government with a singular objective of maintaining law and order.

    He said when security agencies work in unison, they will fulfill the purpose of their mission and make the government, their paymaster happy.

    He told Agungu that the major criminal activities in the region are kidnapping, pipeline vandalism, illegal refineries and oil theft.

    He said the corps under his command had so far destroyed over 3000 illegal refineries in many local government areas of the state.

    Condemning activities of vandals, he said the corps was fighting against them because of their negative impact on the environment adding that farms, rivers and natural habitat had been destroyed by vandals.

    “Illegal refineries are killing the region. Many people are involved in it. But we are not relating because we have so far destroyed over 3000 of such refineries. We are also combating pipeline vandalism and kidnapping.

    “We are fighting vigorously against these vices because of their impact mainly on the environment. When pipelines are destroyed, crude oil spills into the environment destroying farms, water sources and aquatic lives. So, the people no longer catch fish”, he said.

    He maintained that forging a synergy would help the security agencies to form a common front against the vices.

    Agu also acknowledged that in their partnership, there could be inter-agency conflicts arising from misunderstanding among the other ranks.

    “I have alley told my operatives to avoid conflict with other sister agencies. We are one and we must work as a team”, he said promising to provide necessary assistance to the Air Force.

    Earlier in his remarks, Agungu said the NSCDC under Agu was doing its best in the state to protect the country’s resources.

    He said: We need to work together to achieve results. It will be difficult if we don’t work as a team. We are always available because we need to always interact,” he said.

  • NAMA, NAF partner on airspace safety

     

     

    The Nigerian Airspace Management Agency (NAMA) and the Nigerian Air Force (NAF) have held high level deliberations bordering on collaboration and synergy of the two institutions in the areas of security of navigational infrastructure, calibration of navigational aids, training of personnel and exchange programmes.

    Speaking when he led a high-powered delegation on a courtesy visit to NAMA headquarters in Lagos, Director of Air Traffic Management Services, Nigerian Air Force, Air Vice Marshal. C. T. Gudi, noted that as a dependable ally, NAMA has always collaborated with NAF in critical areas like strategic airspace surveillance, air traffic control, airspace security and training of Air Force personnel.

    AVM. Gudi stated that the professional and technical expertise provided by NAMA in Air Force operations and training remained invaluable, stressing that their visit was therefore “to deepen this existing cordial relationship and operational synergy especially given the numerous benefits accruing to the nation in terms of safety and security of the airspace.”

    AVM Gudi, who specifically appreciated NAMA for providing on-the-job training for Air Force personnel who graduate from the Nigerian College of Aviation Technology (NCAT) Zaria, also appealed to the agency to always consider the Air Force while planning for ad hoc trainings and seminars on Performance Based Navigation (PBN) and other such programmes which fall in between the major courses at NCAT, Zaria.

    According to him, “the aviation world is very sophisticated and dynamic and is all about who has superior training. Given that NAMA is more acquainted with ICAO calendar and programmes, it has become imperative that the Nigerian Air Force be carried along in some of these trainings so that we can all be speaking the same language.”

    In his remarks, the Ag. Managing Director of NAMA, Engr. Emma Anasi stated that the complimentary role played by NAMA and NAF in ensuring safety and security of the airspace requires that a coordinated and harmonious civil/military collaboration has to be sustained and improved upon.

    While appreciating NAF for providing security around navigational facilities across the nation’s airports, Anasi called for uniformity of Communication, Navigation, Surveillance/Air Traffic Management (CNS/ATM) infrastructure between the two organizations which he believes will make for inter-operability of systems and seamlessness in airspace management.

  • Badeh bought N320m Abuja house for 28-year old son – witness

    Badeh bought N320m Abuja house for 28-year old son – witness

    A Federal High Court in Abuja heard Wednesday how former Chief of Defence Staff, Alex Badeh allegedly deployed public funds to acquire N320million house in Abuja for his 28-year old last son, Kam.

    A retired Air Commodore,  Aliyu Yishau, who said he served as former Director of Finance and Account of the Nigerian Air Force (NAF) while Badeh was the Chief of Air Staff (between September 2012 and December 2013),  made this disclosure at the resumption of proceedings in the trial of Badeh and a firm,  Iyalikam Nigeria Limited.

    Badeh and the firm were arraigned on March 7 this year on a 10-count charge of breach of trust and corruption for allegedly diverting about N3.97bn from NAF’s account.

    Yishau, the first prosecution witness, who was cross-examined by Badeh’s lawyer, Akin Olujinmi (SAN), said the N320m house was the second of such property acquired in Wuse 2, Abuja by the former Chief of Defence Staff for his children.

    He said the first located at No: 19 Kumasi Crescent, Wuse II, Abuja was bought for Badeh’s first son, Alex Badeh (Jnr) at N260m, with N60m spent to renovate it, while N90m was expended in furnishing the property.

    Yishau said the second house, which was bought at N320m for Badeh’s last son is located adjacent to the one bought for Badeh’s first son.

    When asked how he came about the information, the witness said he paid for the houses from the N558.2m taken monthly by Badeh from NAF’s funds.

    He said once he converted the N558.2m to United States dollars and takes it to Badeh in his house, the ex-Chief of Defence Staff will direct him to make payment from it.

    The witness said whenever Badeh directed him to make payments, he always takes the cash from Badeh’s house to his (witness’) house, from where he hands the cash to one Engineer Husseini Salau.

    “I collected the money from the 1st defendant’s (Badeh’s) resident. I take it to my house and ask them to come and collect it. I took the money to his house and he asked me to remove the equivalent of N260m to pay for the house. I deducted the N260m equivalent from the normal monthly N558.2m I take to him.

    “He (the 1st defendant always authorises the deduction for payment whenever I take the monthly money to him. I did not give the house renovation job to Engr Salau. I paid N60m for the renovation of the house based on the instruction of my boss, Air Chief Marshal Alex Badeh,” the witness said.

    He said he could not recall how many times he paid the money for the renovation. But admitted that the money was not paid at once.

    The witness said he was not aware that Alex Badeh jr was just a tenant in the property at No: 19 Kumasi Crescent and that he did not see the tenancy agreement between Engr. Salau and Alex Badeh jr.

    He admitted earlier telling the court, in his evidence-in-chief, that Engr. Salau and Alex Badeh jr located the house at No 19 Kumasie Crescent, Wuse 2.

    He said it will not be correct to say Engr. Salau marketed the house to him.

    He confirmed that he paid N90m for furniture for the house.

    On how he  made payment for the furniture at No:19 Kumasi Crescent, the witness said “When I received instruction from my boss, I directed my office at the Nigerian Air Force headquarters to liaise with Alex Badeh jr and effect the payment of the N90m.”

    On whether it was right for him to have made the payments, Yishau said he was acting on instructions from his boss.

    “In my statement to the EFCC, I said the 1st defendant has two properties in Wuse 2 that cost N260m and N320m. The house that cost N320m is the house adjacent to No 19 Kumasi Crescent, which was purchased from Honourable Bature.

    “That was the one purchased for the last son of the 1st defendant, by name Kam. I cannot remember the address, but can identify it,” the witness said.

    On whether he is a certified accountant, the witness said he worked as an Accountant for the Air Force for 25 years, but that he is not a certified Accountant.

    Further hearing in the case has been adjourned to May 9 at 11 am.

     

  • CAS reaffirms commitment to reposition Nigerian Air Force

    CAS reaffirms commitment to reposition Nigerian Air Force

    The Chief of Air Staff, Air Marshal Sadique Abubakar, on Thursday reiterated his commitment to strengthen the Nigerian Air Force for optimal performance.

     

    Abubakar, who made the remark in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Abuja said that there was no better time to achieve that, than now.

     

    Abubakar said that the Nigerian Air Force was in dire need of repositioning, adding that such had been one of the cardinal points of his administration.

     

    “Our aim is to reposition the Air Force; we are interested in ensuring that we are operating as professionals.

     

    “Professionalism and regimentation in the service is a very important area of interest that we have in the Air Force,’’ he said.

     

    Abubakar said that because of the important role Regimental Sergeant Majors (RSMs) and Warrant Officers (WOs) played in the Air Force, the senior officers deemed it necessary to meet with them on quarterly basis.

     

    According to him, the quarterly meeting enabled him and other officers to interact with them, communicate clear doubts and give them guidelines on what is expected of them.

     

    Abubakar said that the quarterly meeting also availed them of the opportunity to remind the RSMs and WOs of the very crucial role they played in repositioning the Air Force.

     

    Abubakar said that the Air Force had always been part of the operations against criminality and other anti-social vices in the South-South region, adding that it would continue in that direction.

     

    “We are also playing an important role alongside other security agencies in the North-East to bring sanity to the area,’’ he said.

  • Air Force rotates counter insurgency troops

    The Nigerian Air Force has rotated members of its ground forces fighting alongside troops of the Nigerian Army in the ongoing counter insurgency campaign.

    The troops, who have spent more than six months in the Northeast, were being replaced by others assembled from the various Air Force units.

    A statement issued on Friday by the Air Force Director of Public Relations and Information, Air Commodore Dele Alonge, said latest troop rotation was in line with operational practice.

    “It’s aimed at reinvigorating the minds of the personnel and their commitment to the ongoing fight against the Boko Haram terrorists, by replacing the weary hands with fresh ones. The rotation also has the corollary effect of morale boosting for the troops,” Alonge said.

    The statement added that subsisted troops had already been airlifted with the NAF C-130H aircraft from the theatre of operation to their various units.

    “During the short but colourful ceremony, the Commander of 79 Composite Group Maiduguri, Air Commodore Chris Egwoba, on behalf of the Chief of Air Staff, Air Marshal Sadique Abubakar, commended the efforts of the gallant airmen and wished them success in their future endeavours,” the statement added.

     

  • Nigerian Air Force get senior officers

    The Nigerian Air Force (NAF) released yesterday the posting and appointments of some senior officers.

    Among the new appointments are four Branch Chiefs, three Air Officers Commanding (AOCs) and two Commandants.

    The four Branch Chiefs at the NAF  Headquarters are Air Vice Marshal (AVM) AA Iya, formally the Chairman Air Exposition and International Liaison Secretariat (AILS) now appointed as Chief of Training and Operations (CTOP).

    AVM AM Mamu, the former AOC, Training Command Kaduna takes charge as the Chief of Administration (COA).

    AVM IJ Yahaya moves from his former position as the Director of Works to become the Chief of Logistics and Communications (CLOG & Comms). Air Commodore CU Usoh, the former Director of Air Engineering is now the Chief of Aircraft Engineering (CAcE).

    The three AOCs are AVM RA Ojuawo, the former Director of Operations HQ NAF now the Air Officer Commanding (AOC) Tactical Air Command Makurdi.

    AVM WA Ahmed is now the new Air Officer Commanding Training Command Kaduna. In the same vein, AVM MA Muhammed moves from his former position as the Managing Director, NAF Investment Limited to the Air Officer Commanding Logistics Command, Lagos.

    The two new Commandants are AVM MC Iloenyosi who moves from his former position as the Chief of Training and Operations HQ NAF to his present appointment as the Commandant Armed Forces Resettlement Centre Oshodi.

    Also, AVM SA Dambo, the former Senior Air Staff Officer Training Command now takes charge as the Commandant Armed Forces Command and Staff College Jaji.

    A statement yesterday by the Director of Public Relations and Information, Air Commodore Dele Alonge said the new posting and appointments were in line with the Chief of Air Staff’s efforts at transforming the Nigerian Air Force for greater operational efficiency.

     

  • 50 insurgents killed as troops repel insurgents attack on Borno community

    50 insurgents killed as troops repel insurgents attack on Borno community

    NO fewer than 50 insurgents were killed over the weekend as out-of-control Boko Haram militants clashed with troops.

    The troops overpowered the rampaging insurgents and repelled them from raiding Bita, a village in Borno State.

    As the troops counted their gains, reports came that Senate President Bukola Saraki and some senators plan to visit some of the battle fronts in Borno State today.

    A military clearance was being finalised for the trip as at the time of filing this report.

    A top military source, who gave confidential information said: “We are closing in on the insurgents; we are carrying the battle to them this time around.

    “Though we have not included casualty figure in our release but our records have shown that 50 insurgents fell during encounters with troops.”

    A combined effort by the Nigerian Air Force (NAF) and ground troops repelled the latest Boko Haram on Bita, as the sect continued its onslaught on communities in Borno State.

    The NAF said its fighter jets successfully scuttled a planned raid by the sect on the community.

    NAF Headquarters’ spokesman Air Commodore Dele Alonge made the confirmation in a statement issued yesterday.

    He said a large number of insurgents were killed in the operation, carried out by  troops in the area.

    Air Commodore Alonge said the NAF will continue to provide aerial support to the ground force in all operations carried out by troops in the troubled Northeast.

    The statement reads: “The Nigerian Air Force using its Alpha-Jet, provided combat air support to the ground force to attack the insurgents where they were observed to be mopping up to carry out a deadly attack on the village.

    “Consequently, a large number of the insurgents were killed and several others, injured.”

    Air Commodore Alonge also said the NAF Alpha-Jet conducted an armed reconnaissance along Bita to Gwoza road, and through Yamtege, Hamdaga, Dure and Pulka.

    According to him, NAF will continue to give all necessary support to the ground force, through its intensified and persistent efforts in the ongoing fight against Boko Haram.

    He said the momentum will be sustained in the ongoing operations against the terrorists until all portions of Nigeria’s territory have been reclaimed, safe and free from the insurgents.

    The new Chief of the Air Staff, Air Vice Marshal Sadeeq Abubakar, has pledged to improve NAF’s fire power in the ongoing fight against Boko Haram.

    Meanwhile, logistic arrangements were being made last night for today’s visit of the Dr. Saraki and some of his colleagues in the Senate to the battle fronts.

    It was, however, learnt that the trip will be “strictly guided by security operatives.”

    A top source, who spoke in confidence, said: “The military clearance and the scope of the trip are being worked out.

    “The Senate delegation wants to have first-hand information of the situation at the battle fronts. The delegation will identify with troops and those who are internally displaced.”