The Nation Newspaper

Tag: Nigerian Air Force

  • Air Force loses airman to Parachuting accident

    The Nigerian Air Force on Sunday announced it lost one of its airmen to parachuting accident in Kaduna.

    Its spokesman, Air Commodore Ibikunle Daramola, said in a statement that the incident occurred during recurrence training.

    Read Also: Air Force strike kills 25 bandits in Zamfara

    He said: “The Nigerian Air Force (NAF) is sad to announce the passing of one of its airmen, Corporal Meshach Iliya Komo, who died in Kaduna today, 14 April 2019, in a parachuting accident during recurrence training.

    “On behalf officers, airmen and airwomen of the NAF, the Chief of the Air Staff, Air Marshal Sadique Abubakar, commiserates with the family of the late airman over this irreparable loss.

    “We pray that the Almighty God grants his soul eternal rest.”

  • Air Force kills four bandits in Kagara forest

    The Nigerian Air Force on Sunday said four bandits have been killed during air strikes in Kagara Forest in Zamfara state when the bandits fired at its Mi-35 helicopter gunship during an operation.

    According to the spokesman of the Air Force, Air Commodore, Ibikunle Daramola, the air strikes were targeted at logistic base of the bandits inside the forest.

    Daramola explained in a statement that the operations were carried out after intelligence report had established the presence of the bandits and their operational equipment in the area.

    He said: “In continuation of its sustained intensive air operations against armed bandits’ hideouts in Zamfara State and its environs, the Air Task Force (ATF) for Operation DIRAN MIKIYA has destroyed some logistics stores belonging to the bandits at a location within Kagara forest.

    “The operation was executed on Sunday, 13 April 2019, following credible intelligence reports indicating that some of the armed bandits who had fled their camps as a result of NAF’s earlier air strikes had relocated some logistics items, including fuel, motorcycles and local arms making equipment, to another location within Kagara Forest.

    ” Accordingly, the ATF dispatched an Mi-35 helicopter gunship, supported by an Intelligence, Surveillance and Reconnaissance (ISR) platform, to attack the target. The target area initially appeared uninhabited.

    “However, as the helicopter approached, some of the bandits were seen emerging from under the shrubbery and running away from the area.

    Read Also: Air Force bombs bandits

    “The helicopter engaged the target recording successful hits on the logistics facility, which was engulfed in flames with thick black smoke seen.

    “Some armed bandits, who fired at the aircraft, were taken out by the helicopter.

    “Reports from independent sources, including local informants and village leaders around the general area, later confirmed that the logistics base was totally destroyed and 4 armed bandits killed as a result of the attack.

    “The NAF, working in consonance with surface forces and other security agencies, will sustain its operations to flush the bandits out of the Northwest of the country.”

     

     

     

  • Eliminate bandits, insurgents in your domain, CAS orders troops

    Chief of Air Staff, (CAS) Air Marshal Saddique Baba Abubakar has given marching order to personnel of the Nigerian Air Force (NAF) to eliminate bandits and insurgents terrorizing their areas of responsibility.

    He told his men to think out of the box and immediately evolve strategies, including insertion of panthers into the hostile zones to conduct surgical operations to eliminate the bandits.

    The CAS gave the order in his remarks during the commissioning of accommodation projects at the Regiment Training Center (RTC) and Military Training Center, (MTC)  NAF base in Kaduna on Wednesday.

    Represented by the Chief of Policy and Plans, NAF Headquarters, Air Vice Marshal, Emmanuel Anebi, the CAS tasked the Air Officer Commanding, Ground Training Command, Air Vice Marshal Idi Amin, and his regiment officers to ‘think out of the box’ and immediately evolve strategies, part of which includes inserting panthers into hostile zones to conduct surgical operations to eliminate bandits and high value targets terrorizing the country.

    READ ALSO: Helicopter crash: Buhari condoles with Nigerian Air Force

    According to him: “While capacity is been built within the NAF, we must continue to develop strategies to anticipate and curb emerging security threats accross the country.”

    CAS however said the efforts of the Federal Government to adequately equip the military are already yielding the desired results as the Boko-Haram terrorists are being targeted and neutralised.

    Air Officer Commanding AOC Idi Amin said there has been a giant stride by the leadership of the NAF in the area of training, kitting and welfare of officers and men of the force and “the result is evident in the successes recorded by its personnel in fight against insurgency and other internal operations across the country by its well -motivated personnel.”

    The projects commissioned by the CAS include three blocks of 10 by one bedroom in cadets quarters and MTC, two blocks of 20 by one students hostel at RTC.

  • Air Force strike kills 25 bandits in Zamfara

    The Nigerian Air Force on Sunday said more than 25 bandits have been killed in Zamfara state after it launched air strikes on their hideouts at the weekend.

    The spokesman of the Air Force, Air commodore Ibikunle Daramola said in a statement that the strikes were carried out after intelligence platforms have established the presence of the bandits in the areas.

    He added that the structures and logistics base of the bandits were also destroyed during the operations.

    Air Commodore Daramola said: “The Air Task Force (ATF) for Operation DIRAN MIKIYA has successfully destroyed an armed bandits’ logistics base at Ajia and neutralized dozens of armed bandits at Ajia and Wonaka in Birnin Magaji Local Government Area (LGA) of Zamfara State.

    “The operation was executed on 4 April 2019 sequel to Human Intelligence (HUMINT) reports indicating that the armed bandits were using a compound within Ajia as a logistics store to support their operations.

    Read Also: Zamfara imposes curfew on motorcycles

    “Consequently, the ATF dispatched a Nigerian Air Force (NAF) Alpha Jet, supported by an Intelligence, Surveillance and Reconnaissance (ISR) platform, to attack the compound scoring accurate strikes on the target and causing it to erupt into flames, which engulfed the structures and resulted in the neutralization of some of the bandits.

    “Few survivors, seen fleeing the vicinity of the target area, were taken out in follow-on attacks while others, who managed to escape the area, were tracked to Wonaka and equally neutralised.

    “Independent HUMINT sources subsequently confirmed that more than 25 armed bandits were neutralized in the attacks on the 2 locations.

    “The NAF, working in close coordination with sister Services and other security agencies, will sustain its operations to neutralize the armed bandits and deny them freedom of action in the Northwest.”

     

  • NAF destroys bandits’ logistics Base in Zamfara

    The Nigerian Air Force (NAF) says the Air Task Force (ATF) for Operation DIRAN MIKIYA has successfully destroyed a bandits’ logistics base at Ajia in Birnin Magaji Local Government Area of Zamfara.

    Air Commodore Ibikunle Daramola, NAF Director of Public Relations and Information, disclosed this in a statement issued in Abuja.

    He said the ATF also neutralised dozens of the bandits at Ajia and Wonaka in Birnin Magaji Local Government Area of Zamfara.

    Daramola explained that the operation was executed sequel to Human Intelligence (HUMINT) reports indicating that the bandits were using a compound within Ajia as a logistics store to support their operations.

    “Consequently, the ATF dispatched a Nigerian Air Force (NAF) Alpha Jet, supported by an Intelligence, Surveillance and Reconnaissance (ISR) platform, to attack the compound scoring accurate strikes on the target and causing it to erupt into flames, which engulfed the structures and resulted in the neutralisation of some of the bandits,” he said.

    Read also: End killings, kidnapping in Zamfara now, protesters urge Buhari

    The spokesman said few survivors, seen fleeing the vicinity of the target area, were taken out in follow-on attacks while others, who managed to escape the area, were tracked to Wonaka and equally neutralised.

    “Independent HUMINT sources subsequently confirmed that more than 25  bandits were neutralised in the attacks on the two locations.

    “The NAF, working in close coordination with sister Services and other security agencies, will sustain its operations to neutralise the bandits and deny them freedom of action in the North West,” he said. (NAN)

  • Abuja-Kadunna Highway kidnapping: NAF to provide geospatial intelligence

    The Nigerian Air Force (NAF) has reiterated its commitment to support the Police and other security agencies with imagery intelligence to tackle security challenges in Nigeria.

    NAF Spokesman, Air Commodore Ibikunle Daramola, made this known in a statement on Wednesday in Abuja.

    He said this was part of inter-agency cooperation to address security challenges in the country, especially, the issue of kidnapping and banditry along the Abuja-Kaduna highway and Kaduna-Birnin Gwari axis.

    Daramola said the Chief of the Air Staff (CAS), Air Marshal Sadique Abubakar, disclosed this when the Acting Inspector General of Police, (I-G), Mohammed Adamu, and the Director-General DSS (DG DSS), Yusuf Bichi, visited him at NAF Headquarters, Abuja.

    He said the I-G and the DG DSS on arrival went into a closed-door meeting with the CAS before undertaking a guided tour of facilities at the newly established, state-of-the-art Geospatial-Intelligence Data Centre (GIDC) and Strategic Air Operations Centre (SAOC).

    Read also: NAF, Police, DSS plan joint action against bandits, kidnappers in Northwest

    He said that the GIDC, equipped with high-tech computer hardware and software, was established to enhance the acquisition, analysis, interpretation and exploitation of imagery and geospatial information to provide actionable intelligence for the Armed Forces and other security agencies.

    He said the equally well-equipped SAOC is expected to greatly enhance the coordination of air operations in support of internal security operations across the country.

    Adamu while inspecting the facilities, expressed delight and satisfaction with the cutting edge technologies and sophisticated computer software at the Centres.

    He said the essence of the visit to the CAS was to explore possibilities of using NAF air assets and the products of the GIDC to improve the effectiveness of operations to deal with issue of kidnapping and armed banditry.

    ” Especially along the Kaduna-Abuja Highway and other parts of the country including Kaduna, Zamfara, Katsina, Niger and Kogi States.”

    According to him, the criminals had moved towards the Abuja axis to carry out their nefarious activities, ” as a result of the onslaught by security agencies against the bandits in Zamfara.

    “I felt that as a security agency, we need to synergize with other security outfits.

    ” We don’t have the air capability but the NAF has them, with this, we can have a joint operation to deal with this security issue.”

    The I-G appreciated the CAS for making NAF air assets available for the operation and also availing the police and DSS of the capabilities of the GIDC and SAOC.

    He also congratulated Abubakar for emplacing such facilities and making them available to other security agencies to enhance internal security operations for the benefit of the Nigerian people.(NAN)

  • NAF, Police, DSS plan joint action against bandits, kidnappers in Northwest

    The Nigerian Air Force, The Nigerian Police and the Department of State Security (DSS) have resolved to work together to dislodge bandits and kidnappers from their hideouts in the northwest of the country.

    According to the spokesman of the NAF, Air Commodore Ibikunle Daramola, the interagency collaboration followed the visit of the Inspector General of Police, Mohammed A Adamu and the Director General of DSS, Yusuf Bichi to the Chief of the Air Staff, Air Marshal Sadique Abubakar at NAF headquarters in Abuja on Wednesday.

    Air Commodore Daramola explained in a statement that besides sharing intelligence on ways to dislodge bandits and kidnappers from their hideouts, the NAF would also make available air assets in support of the other agencies to secure the affected States in the zone.

    The statement reads: “As part of inter-agency cooperation to address security challenges in the country,  especially the issue of kidnapping and armed banditry along the Abuja-Kaduna Highway and Kaduna-Birnin Gwari axis, the Nigerian Air Force (NAF) has reiterated its commitment to support the Nigeria Police, Department of State Services (DSS) and other security agencies with real time ‪geospatial and imagery intelligence whilst making available its air assets for the conduct of tactical air support missions and ‪increasing the frequency of air reconnaissance in the affected areas.

    ” The Chief of the Air Staff (CAS), Air Marshal Sadique Baba Abubakar, disclosed this today, 3 April 2019, while playing host to the Acting Inspector General of Police (IGP), Mohammed Abubakar Adamu, and the Director-General DSS (DG DSS), Yusuf Bichi, at Headquarters NAF, Abuja.

    ” The IGP and DG DSS on arrival at HQ NAF immediately went into a closed-door meeting with the CAS before undertaking a guided tour of facilities at the newly established, state-of-the-art Geospatial-Intelligence Data Centre (GIDC) and Strategic Air Operations Centre (SAOC).

    “The GIDC, which is equipped with high-tech computer hardware and software, was established to enhance‪ the acquisition, analysis,  interpretation and exploitation of imagery and geospatial information to provide actionable intelligence for the Armed Forces and other security   agencies, while the equally well-equipped SAOC is expected to greatly enhance the coordination of air operations in support of internal security operations across the Country.

    Read also: El-Rufai’s convoy foils kidnapping along Kaduna-Abuja road

    “While inspecting the facilities, the Acting IGP expressed delight and satisfaction with the cutting edge technologies and sophisticated computer software at the Centres.

    “He said the essence of the visit to the CAS was to explore possibilities of using NAF air assets and the products of the GIDC to improve the effectiveness of operations to deal with issue of kidnapping and armed banditry, especially along the Kaduna-Abuja Highway and other parts of the country including Kaduna, Zamfara, Katsina, Niger and Kogi States.

    “According to him, as a result of the onslaught by security agencies against the armed bandits in Zamfara State, the criminals had moved towards the Abuja axis to carry out their nefarious activities.

    “I felt that as a security agency, we need to synergize with other security outfits. We don’t have the air capability but the NAF has them. With this we can have a joint operation to deal with this security issue”, he said.

    ” The IGP appreciated the CAS for making NAF air assets available for the operation and also availing the NPF and DSS of the capabilities of the GIDC and SAOC.

    “He also congratulated him for emplacing such facilities and making them available to other security agencies to enhance internal security operations for the benefit of the Nigerian people.”

     

  • Paramount Group launches marauder armoured vehicle, personnel carrier

    Paramount Group, the African-based global defence and aerospace company, has launched its marauder armoured vehicle and personnel carrier in partnership with the Nigerian Air Force.

    The move comes as Nigeria renews efforts to effectively tackle a wide range of threats posed by various terrorist and extremist groups.

    The Vehicle Marauder is a 15-tonne uniquely designed armoured land system.

    It can be reconfigured as either a troop carrier or combat vehicle, maintaining excellent cross-country agility while reaching a top speed of 120 km/hr over challenging terrains.

    The vehicle, which is popularly described as “The World’s Most Unstoppable Vehicle,” has lot of features like double-skinned hull throughout its cabin and crew compartment to protect it against a wide range of kinetic attacks such as protecting the crew against AK-47 attacks.

    Read Also: Police arraign man for forgery of vehicle auction papers

    The vehicle can also withstand a side blast (IED or roadside bomb) equivalent to 50kgs of explosives, which is critical for the assymetrical warfare experienced in Northern parts of the country.

    The marauder is further equipped with specially designed anti-blast seats, which prevent injury from the extreme acceleration of a side blast or mine blast under the hull.

    The marauder offers outstanding fire power to protect its crew against heavy attacks and can be fitted with a wide range of weapons systems.

    These particular Marauders are equipped with a Jordanian-made snake head turret fitted with a 7.62mm machine gun.

    Speaking on the partnership, the senior Vice President of Paramount Group, Eric Ichikowitz, said: “We are privileged to work alongside the Nigerian Air Force, commending, through the acquisition and deployment of the Marauder, their continued commitment to enhancing their continued commitment to enhancing their national defence and internal security capabilities and prowess.

    “Nigeria’s Government also understands not only the leadership role they play in international peace keeping missions across the ECOWAS but indeed how to effectively address the evolutionary nature of those Cross-regional challenges posed by threats such as organized Insurgences.”

    Paramount Group subsidiary Paramount Maritime notably received orders for dozens of rigid hull inflatable boats (RHIBs) in 2018 in a multipurpose effort by the Nigerian Navy to defend its blue economy and coastline.

  • Air Force kills Boko Haram leaders, others

    The Nigerian Air Force Tuesday said it has launched series of air strikes on the hideouts of Boko Haram terrorists at the fringes of Lake Chad in Borno state.

    Its spokesman, Air Commodore Ibikunle Daramola said in a statement that the operations led to killing of high valued Boko Haram members.

    He added the operations were carried out after intelligence platform had established the presence of the terrorists in the area.

    Air Commodore Daramola said: “The Air Task Force (ATF) of Operation LAFIYA DOLE has significantly degraded an Islamic State of West Africa Province (ISWAP) Terrorists’ Hideout and neutralized some of its leaders and fighters at Magari on the fringes of Lake Chad in the Northern part of Borno State.

    “This was accomplished in an air interdiction mission conducted on Tuesday, 1 April 2019, following credible intelligence reports indicating that some senior ISWAP leaders arrived the settlement on Friday, 30 April 2019, along with some of their fighters.

    Read Also: Air Force destroys insurgents’ logistics in Borno

    “Intelligence Surveillance and Reconnaissance (ISR) missions conducted over the weekend confirmed increased level of human activities in the settlement with a prominent ISWAP flag observed near 2 compounds in the settlement indicating the presence of high level leaders of the Sect.

    “Accordingly, 2 Nigerian Air Force (NAF) Alpha Jet aircraft, supported by an ISR platform, were dispatched to attack the identified compounds within the settlement.

    “Overhead the target area, some terrorists were observed in the vicinity of the compounds. The bombs from the 2 Alpha Jets recorded direct hits on the target compounds resulting in destruction of several structures, which were seen engulfed in flames. Several of the terrorists were also neutralized in the process.

    “The NAF, operating in concert with surface forces, will sustain its operations against the terrorists in the Northeast.”

  • Insurgency: NAF to take delivery of aircraft

    The Nigerian Air Force (NAF) plans to strengthen its arsenal for the fight against insurgency in the Northwest with the delivery of “Augusta 109’’ power helicopter from Italy.

    Chief of Air Staff (CAS) Air Marshal Sadique Abubakar spoke  at the “2019 First Quarter Chief of Air Staff Conference yesterday in Abuja.

    Air Marshal Abubakar said that acquisition of the military helicopter was part of renewed efforts of the Federal Government to ensure security in the Northwest.

    He said the focus was particularly in Zamfara, Sokoto and Kaduna states, where a new detachment had been approved by the Air Force Council.

    “We have already provided landing facilities there for helicopters and we have also provided fuelling facilities for the aircraft,” the CAS said.

    Abubakar disclosed that NAF was currently reactivating five of its aircrafts, adding that “3L 39 Live Extension Programme’’ was on in Kano and “MI 35 Live Extension Programme’’ in Port Harcourt.

    “I believe these methods substantially add to our capacity to boost these assets and make Nigeria secure. Similarly, on reactivation, three helicopters in Kanji are being overhauled.

    “We have paid substantially for it and very soon, I believe by September this year, we will have those three helicopters flying. So, I think in terms of acquisition and reactivation of aircraft, the service has equally been successful.”

    CAS Abubakar also said that the Force had trained no fewer than 1,000 Special Force elements that were contributing significantly in dealing with insecurity in Zamfara, where it had 300 Special Force operatives.

    He said: “We also have another 300 special force elements in Benue under `Operation Whirl Stroke’ that is run by the Defence Headquarters.

    Read also: Presidency spanks PDP for threatening to stop Buhari

    “We also have units in Taraba where we have the Quick Response Wing as well as in Agatu, Benue, where we also have the Quick Response Wing.”

    On Joint Force Operation, Abubakar said that the service was working closely with the Multinational Joint Task Force (MJTF) under Operation YANCI TAFKI.

    He also said that during recent general elections, the Force lifted over 820, 000 kilogrammes of polling materials, using eight aircrafts, to 31 locations across the country.

    “We were able to conclude this in spite of the fact that we were brought in late to ensure that the Presidential, National Assembly elections, and Governorship and House of Assembly elections were conducted,” he said.

    The air chief added that the service had on Tuesday conveyed election materials to Jalingo, Yola and Bauchi for Saturday’s supplementary elections slated by Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC).