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Tag: Nigerian Air Force

  • Air force begins bombardment of Zamfara bandits

    The Nigerian Air Force commenced aerial bombardments on Monday, in a joint military offensive to end the banditry in Zamfara communities.

    The Commander of the 207 Quick Response Group of the air force, Group Capt. Caleb Olayera, made the disclosure while speaking with newsmen in Gusau.

    He was speaking after taking delivery of two airplanes deployed for the operation.

    Olayera described the operation as part of a joint military operation, involving the air force, army, police and civil defence to flush out the bandits.

    The Nation reports that Zamfara in Nigeria’s northwest has seen intense banditry in recent times that has left hundreds dead and displaced thousands in various communities.

    The Federal Government has since been battling the jihadist Boko Haram group in Nigeria’s northeast in a low intensity war that has claimed thousands of lives and displaced millions since 2009.

    Read Also: Fed Govt to deploy 2000 special forces in Zamfara

    Olayera said that two helipads had already been constructed by the air force for the Zamfara security operation.

    “We told you that the helipads will be used as the base for our fighter jets to neutralise any group of criminals and their hideouts.

    He assured that peace would soon return to troubled communities in Zamfara with the commencement of the military operation.

    The governor of Zamfara, Alhaji Abdulaziz Yari, in an apparent frustration over the banditry in the state, recently   renounced his position as chief security officer of the state.

    He cited his inability to take charge of security agencies in the state to end the banditry.

    NAN

     

  • Buhari Commissions Air Force Hospital, Bauchi

    President Muhammadu Buhari on Thursday commissioned a new Nigerian Air Force Reference Hospital at Sir Abubakar Tafawa Balewa International Airport Bauchi.

    The Airport launched in 2014,besides operating as civil aviation facility is also housing Nigeria Air Force Special Operations Unit.It was  recently by the Nigerian Air Force (NAF) in the state.

    Speaking at the ceremony,the Chief of Air Staff,Air Marshal Sadiq Abubakar said the Nigerian Air Force Hospital is a 60 bed health facility made up of  an Accident, Emergency, Intensive Care units.

    The hospital also has Twin theatres, Radio Diagnostic unit, renal dialysis, ophthalmic, dental, physiotherapy, maternal and new born care and a mortuary.

    He revealed that the hospital is equipped with modern diagnostic and life support equipment intended to provide medical care to critically ill patients such as those wounded in combat.

    Though, the hospital is set up  to provide cater for the Air Force personnel and the Armed Forces,its services have been extended to the host communities in compliance with the NAF tradition.

    The Air Force boss added that “we hope this will further enhance the cordial relationship that already exists between the NAF and the host communities in the state”.

    “On improving the medical health care services available to our troops in the NE,  a medical trauma unit has been created, equipped and attached to medical evacuation helicopters as an integral part of the medical evacuation cell of the air task force of OPERATIONS LAFIYA DOLE”.

    The Chief of Air Staff maintained that NAF has established Emergency field hospitals in Dalori and Bama IDP camps and upgraded the state clinic in Maikohi IDP Camp in Yola.

    “In the same vein, NAF has also organized series of surgical programmes in which over 1, 871 IDPs with eye and other surgical problems were operated and treated free of charge”.

    “The NAF humanitarian activities did not only provide succor to the IDPs, but also filled in the vacuum created by the insurgency in the National Health Care system of the NE”. He stated.

    Giving his blessings, President Muhammadu Buhari commended the Nigerian Air Force for constructing the hospital, noting that “it is of international standards ‘.

    He also charged the Nigeria Air Force to ensure optimal performance,commended Service Chiefs,and military commanders for giving priority to the welfare and well-being of the troops which motivated them to engage terrorists in vigorous battles.

    The President also in Bauchi commissioned road projects,and launched the distribution of 500 farm tractors meant to increase farm produce in Bauchi state and Nigeria at large. Also launched were Agricultural implements.

    In a speech shortly before flagging off the distribution of the tractors and agricultural implements and farm inputs, announced announced his intention to contest the 2019 presidential election on All Progressive Congress (APC)

    He informed that the federal government is committed in its efforts to boost  agriculture, education, security and fight corruption and corrupt practices.

    Commenting on education,Buhari urged  Nigerians to give education priority and urged them to send their children to school to enable them work and become self-reliant and to contribute to the growth and development of the country.

    He joked that if he had not gone to school,perhaps,he would have been less Ke the Herdsmen troubling farmers across the nation with his Cows.

    And assured Nigerians that he will continue to fight all corrupt practices  saying government would continue to provide protect lives and properties to the people.

    Bauchi state Governor Mohammed Abubakar,had earlier announced that his government is committed to boost agriculture by supplying 500 tractors and other farming tools that included power tillers, water pumps, and fertilizers, modern planting of seeds machines, ox-plough to boost agriculture from the grass root.

    He commended president Buhari for his giant stride in the areas of agriculture and his laudable programmes that save the socio economic activities in the country.

    Buhari who arrive at Sir Abubakar Tafawa Balewa International Airport was received  by Governor Mohammed Abdullahi Abubakar his Adamawa State counterpart Senator Muhammad Umar Jibrilla Bindow , Chief of Defence Staff General Abayomi Olanisakin, Chief of Air Staff Air Marshal Sadiq Abubakar Minister of Defence Brigadier General Mannir Dan Ali rtd, Minister of Health Professor Isaac Adewale, Minister of Women Affairs Hajiya Jummai Alhassan,  Inspector General of Police Ibrahim Idris  top government functionaries.

    But in a swift reaction People’s Democratic Party PDP Bauchi State Chapter has announced  that all projects earmarked to be commissioned by Buhari in Bauchi are not worthy of the President visit as the construction work on the roads are ongoing.

    The Publicity Secretary of the Party Yayanuwa Zainabari stated this yesterday while commenting on the Presidential Visit, He said “though we are happy that the  President has visited our state, the projects he came to commission.besides the Air Force Hospital are not worthy of a presidential visit.

    The roads commissioned were still under construction, they are not completed, they were merely decorated by the State Government.

    Zainabari said even workers and pensioners entitlements are yet to be settled by the State government some allowances were not paid and gratuities were not paid despite numerous intervention from the Federal Government.

    He said ahead of president Buhari’s visit Government decorated round about and painted the metropolitan roads as it it’s like Sallah celebrations.

    PDP spokesman said its embarrassing government in three years has no single completed projects went ahead and claimed to have purchased tractors for distribution to farmers , because it s the responsibilities of local government to procured tractors for their farmers not the State.

  • Air Force fires Boko Haram with rockets, kill scores of them

    The Nigerian Air Force (NAF) on Tueday said that it has conducted air strikes against Boko Haram Terrorists killing scores of insurgents in the air operations.

    Its Director of Public Relations and Information, Air Vice Marshal Olatokunbo Adesanya said in a statement that the air strikes were carried out after an Intelligence, Surveillance and Reconnaissance (ISR) platform has established Boko Haram activities in the area.

    AVM Adesanya said: “The Air Task Force (ATF) of Operation LAFIYA DOLE, in the night of 13   April 2018, successfully destroyed some Boko Haram Terrorists (BHT) vehicles at a location, about 12km East of AREGE, in the Lake Chad Region.

    “Earlier on, a Nigerian Air Force (NAF) Intelligence, Surveillance and Reconnaissance (ISR) aircraft had discovered BHT activities, with some vehicles mounted with guns, moving within the location.

    “Accordingly, the ATF detailed NAF Mi-35M Helicopter gunships to conduct Air Interdiction strikes to take out the targets.

    “Overhead the location, the attack platform acquired, interdicted and neutralised the targets with rockets and cannons.

    “The subsequent Battle Damage Assessment (BDA) revealed that at the end of the attack, a BHT gun truck, with its entire occupants, was completely destroyed and engulfed in fire. Another BHT vehicle was damaged and immobilised as a result of the attack while several BHTs were killed in the process.

    “The NAF continues to provide adequate air support, through the ATF of Operation LAFIYA DOLE, by conducting a range of air operations to create the necessary environment for ground operations to continue apace.”

  • Air Force Graduates Pilots for Unmanned Aircrafts

    Air Force Graduates Pilots for Unmanned Aircrafts

    The Nigerian Air Force (NAF) on Monday said it has graduated the first set in-house trained pilots for its Remotely Piloted Aircrafts (RPA).

    According to a statement endorsed by the Director of Public Relations and Information of the NAF, Air Vice Marshal Olatokunbo Adesanya, the newly trained five pilots were decorated with their wings by the Chief of the Air Staff, Air Marshal Sadique Baba Abubakar at the NAF Base Makurdi.

    The statement by AVM Adesanya reads: “The Nigerian Air Force (NAF) on 2 March 2018 graduated the first set of in-house trained pilots for its Remotely Piloted Aircraft (RPA), as part of the human capacity development initiatives of the current NAF leadership.

    “The 5 newly trained RPA pilots were decorated with their ‘wings’ by the Chief of the Air Staff, Air Marshal Sadique Abubakar, at the Nigerian Air Force (NAF) Base at Maiduguri. The training of the new Pilots commenced in 2016 at the 401 Flying Training School, Kaduna, following which they later converted on the CH-3A RPA.

    “The CH-3A RPA conversion training, which started in May 2017, covered areas such as Ground Academics, General Airmanship, Instruments, Situational Awareness, Radiotelephony, Boldface exercises as well as handling of simulated and real emergencies.

    “The entire programme lasted about 2 years while the CH-3A RPA specifics phase lasted for 10 months, culminating in check rides for each of the 5 new RPA pilots. At the moment, the new pilots each have nearly a hundred hours each on the CH-3A RPA.

    “The CH-3A RPA, which formed part of the training platforms, is currently deployed in the North East, where the Air Task Force of Operation LAFIYA DOLE is using it against Boko Haram Terrorists (BHTs).

    “With several hundreds of flight hours on the CH-3A RPA alone since induction three years ago, the NAF has developed commendable experience in its RPA operations. In the process, the CH-3A RPA, in combat role, has successfully delivered its ordnances against BHTs targets with high degrees of precision and accuracy, both day and night.

    ” With the recent feat of being able to train the pilots of the RPA in-house, the NAF is now poised to train additional batches of Student Pilots for its RPAs. This would ensure the availability of the required manpower, at minimal cost, to man the NAF’s RPAs, which are expected to increase in the coming years.

    “It would be recalled that the NAF recently inducted the first indigenous operational Unmanned Aerial Vehicle (UAV), named Tsaigumi, in its resolve to enhance its Intelligence, Surveillance and Reconnaissance capabilities.

    “Meanwhile, plans are already underway to mass produce the Tsaigumi UAV as well as develop the nation’s first indigenous Unmanned Combat Aerial Vehicle, which would be in the league of the CH-3A RPA”.

  • Air Force deploys troops against bandits in Niger state

    Air Force deploys troops against bandits in Niger state

    The Nigerian Air Force (NAF) said on Tuesday that a substantial number of troops has been deployed by the service in support of the on-going Operation Karamin Goro, targetted at bandits, cattle rustlers and kidnappers in Niger state.

    Its Director of Public Relations and Information, Air Vice Marshal Olatokunbo Adesanya, said in a statement that the one month joint operation with the army is at the behest of the Niger state government.

    AVM Adesanya said : “As part of efforts to curb the menace of kidnapping, armed banditry, cattle rustling and other forms of criminalities in Niger State, the Nigerian Air Force (NAF) has contributed a substantial number of troops to the ongoing Joint Operation codenamed, OPERATION KARAMIN GORO.

    “The NAF personnel are participating in the one month Joint Operation, which is at the behest of the Niger State Government, in collaboration with personnel of the Nigerian Army, the Nigeria Police and Department of State Services.

    Read Also:  Air Force offers free medical care in Enugu

    “The operation commenced on 18 January 2018 and is part of the efforts by the Niger State Government to enhance security of lives and properties in the State.

    “The NAF, as part of its statutory responsibilities of defending the territorial integrity of Nigeria, has been involved in various Internal Security operations across the country. These include the fight against insurgency in the North East, cattle rustling, kidnapping and armed banditry in the North West, militancy in the South-South and pipeline vandalism in the South West.

    “Only recently, the Chief of the Air Staff, Air Marshal Sadique Abubakar announced the establishment of additional Forward Operational Bases (FOBs) in Taraba as well as the Benue-Nassarawa States Axis, as part of plans to further tackle the incessant herdsmen-farmers clash in the country.

    “It is also recalled that the NAF has been training personnel of its Regiment Specialty in Special Warfare, a major part of which is aimed at enhancing their ability to protect the lives and properties of civilians during Internal Security situations.

    “This is in recognition, by the NAF leadership, of the mostly asymmetric nature of the security challenges confronting the nation in recent times. OPERATION KARAMIN GORO could come to an end by 21 February 2018 unless situation demands otherwise”.

  • Air Force offers free medical care in Enugu

    Air Force offers free medical care in Enugu

    Over 500 residents of Gabon Village in Emene, a suburb of Enugu, have benefited from a comprehensive medical outreach of the Nigerian Air Force (NAF) Ground Training Command (GTC), Enugu.

    The comprehensive medical outreach included blood pressure check, weight check, eye check, free medicated glasses, instant laboratory test, free drugs and insecticide-treated nets.

    Other packages included free condoms and family planning counseling as well as general health awareness talk.

    Flagging off the two-day medical outreach, the Air Officer Commanding (AOC) of GTC, Enugu, AVM Sampson Akpasa, said that the Nigerian Air Force takes pride in fostering good relationship with people and its host communities.

    Akpasa, who was represented by Air Commodore Abdullahi Kassimu, said that since the Nigerian Air Force would be setting up a GTC Command near the village in few days, the medical outreach was meant to enlighten them to know that Nigerian Air Force meant well for them.

    “The Chief of the Air Staff (CAS), Air Marshal Sadique Abubakar, has made it mandatory and possible that all Nigerian Air Force command, base and unit must relate well with their host communities.

    “He has instructed us to foster good community relationships and ensure that our host communities or villages understand that we mean well for them.

    “That Nigerian Air Force is here to support them and make their lives and communities or villages better,” he said.

    The Traditional Ruler of the Village, Igwe Okechukwu Johnson, thanked the Nigerian Air Force for bringing the medical outreach to his people.

    Okechukwu commended the officers and airmen for the peaceful relationship between the village and the Nigerian Air Force all these years; adding; “It can only get better’’.

    “I feel good. I pray that God will bless the Nigerian Air Force,” he said.

    One of the beneficiaries, Pa Chidi Nwanne, thanked the Air Force for giving him free eyeglasses, free insecticide-treated net and some vitamin drugs.

    “I am full of gratitude for this favour and kindness the Nigerian Air Force has shown me as well as everybody in the village that came out for this medical outreach. God keep blessing them,’’ he said.

    The new GTC Command had been mandated by Chief of the Air Staff (CAS) to see to all local ground training of the Nigerian Air Force personnel.

     

  • Air Force bombs Boko Haram weapons in Sambisa

    Air Force bombs Boko Haram weapons in Sambisa

    The Nigerian Air Force Wednesday said it has destroyed artillery guns belonging to the Boko Haram Terrorists in Sambisa forest with a Remotely Piloted Aircraft (RPA).

    The Director of Public Relations and Information of the NAF, Air Vice Marshal Olatokunbo Adesanya, said in a statement supported with a video clip that the operation was conducted after an Intelligence Surveillance and Reconnaissance platform had confirm the presence of the terrorists weapons in the area.

    AVM Adesanya said: “A Nigerian Air Force (NAF) remotely piloted aircraft (RPA), on 6 February 2018, successfully destroyed an artillery gun belonging to the Boko Haram Terrorists (BHTs) in the vicinity of Sambisa Forest.

    “A NAF Intelligence Surveillance and Reconnaissance (ISR) platform had sighted the artillery gun while on a routine surveillance around the outskirt of the Sambisa general area.

    “Consequently, the surveillance ISR aircraft requested for an immediate air strike and a NAF RPA was deployed to interdict the target.

    “Overhead the target location, the RPA acquired and attacked the target, completely destroying the artillery gun and setting it ablaze.

    “NAF aircraft continue to survey the Sambisa Forest and environs as part of the ongoing coordinated air and land operations aimed at ridding the nation of the remnants of the insurgents”

  • NAF denies Amnesty International’s allegation of human rights abuses

    NAF denies Amnesty International’s allegation of human rights abuses

    ‘The Nigerian Air Force (NAF) has denied that it is involved in human rights abuses during the herdsmen/farmers clashes in Numan general area of Adamawa as alleged by the Amnesty International.

    NAF, in a statement by its Spokesman, Air Vice Marshal Olatokunbo Adesanya, described the entire allegations by the international body as “lies.’’

    Adesanya explained that on Dec. 4, 2017, NAF was called in by the GOC 3 Division to provide support to troops in curtailing farmers/herdsmen crisis in Numan, Adamawa.

    According to him, the support is in form of “show of force low-level flights.’’

    “To set the records straight, in the early hours of Dec. 4, 2017, a NAF Intelligence Surveillance and Reconnaissance ( ISR ) platform departed Maiduguri to conduct ISR over Numan general area.

    “This was in response to a request by the General Officer Commanding (GOC) 3 Armoured Division of the Nigerian Army, following reports of clashes around that location.

    “ Hundreds of people, mostly dressed in black attires, and who appeared armed, were sighted ransacking and setting a village on fire.

    “ In addition, the hoodlums set large portions of farmlands ablaze.

    “Furthermore, some of the men were seen guiding livestock out of the village.

    Read Also:  NAF  kills Boko Haram fighters in Sambisa

    “Consequently, a NAF aircraft was called in to support the Nigerian Army and other relevant security agencies through ‘show of force’ low-level flights,’’ Adesanya said

    He explained that the action of the NAF was aimed at dispersing the huge crowd and thereby stopping the ongoing carnage.

    The spokesman, however, added that after several low passes, the crowd was undeterred and refused to disperse.

    “Rather, the assailants started firing shots at the aircraft and continued with their dastardly act of burning houses within the settlement.’’

    According to him, the aircraft, therefore has to fire shots ahead of the rampaging crowd when it became obvious that they were heading for Numan to inflict further damage.

    The intervention, he said made the hoodlums to scatter and fled to a nearby bridge.

    “Other low passes were conducted by NAF aircraft over the area to prevent the regrouping of the hoodlums around Numan and other villages.

    Adesanya further explained that the hoodlums had set several villages on fire and much destruction had taken place before the arrival of NAF aircraft.

    “Nevertheless, the intervention of the NAF proved decisive in putting an end to the hoodlums’ rampaging activities,’’ he said.

    Adesanya said it was unfortunate that an organisation of the “stature of Amnesty International would believe a ridiculous story that the pilot of an aircraft flying at a high speed would be able to distinguish between a herdsman and a local farmer before deciding which one to bomb.”

    “ Indeed, at the time the NAF intervened in the crisis around Numan on Dec. 4, 2017, there were no two distinguishable groups clashing.

    “Rather, only one group of hoodlums was seen unleashing mayhem on villages near Numan.

    “At no time did the NAF Spokesman identify the hoodlums as herdsmen, as the pilots could not have possibly determined the identities of the hoodlums from thousands of feet in the air.

    “It is significant to note that without the timely intervention of the NAF, nothing would have stopped the huge mass of hoodlums from burning down Numan, where they were obviously heading.

    “ Had they succeeded, they would have killed several individuals and burnt or destroyed more properties.

    “It is better imagined how many more lives would have been lost without the timely and wise intervention of the NAF.

    “It is the responsibility of the NAF to defend Nigerian lives and the NAF could not have simply watched while lives were being taken and properties destroyed.

    “ It is regrettable that Amnesty International never made any attempt to find out NAF’s account of the events of the said date before making its allegations.

    “The report by Amnesty International is therefore deemed to be unfair, one-sided and apparently aimed at embarrassing the NAF.’’

    He described the NAF as “a highly professional organisation, which places high value on respect for human rights.’’

    NAN

  • 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

  • Air Force Helicopter crashes

    Air Force Helicopter crashes

    The Nigerian Air Force has announced the crash of one of its helicopters while on a mission in the ongoing counter insurgency operations in the Northeast.

    The Director of Public Relations and Information of the NAF, Air Vice Marshal Olatokunbo Adesanya however said no live was lost in the mishap.

    AVM Adesanya said in a statement: “​A Nigerian Air Force (NAF) Mi-17 Helicopter has suffered a mishap while undertaking a mission in the ongoing counterinsurgency operation in the North East.

    “The incident, which occurred today, 8 January 2018, resulted in significant damage to the helicopter. There was, however, no loss of lives as a result of the incident.

    “The Chief of the Air Staff, Air Marshal Sadique Abubakar, has immediately directed the constitution of a board of inquiry to determine the exact cause of the incident, in line with global best practices.

    “The NAF continues to solicit the understanding and support of the general populace as it daily strives to ensure the security of Nigeria and Nigerians”.

    Meanwhile a new Acting Director Defence Information Brig. General John Agim has resumed work at the Defence Headquareters. He replaced Major General John Enenche who is now Commandant Army War College, Nigeria.

    According to a statement signed by Wing Commander Ademosu on behalf of the Director of Defence Information, Brig General Agim until his appointment was Commandant, Nigerian Army School of Public Relations.