The Nation Newspaper

Tag: Nigerian Airforce

  • National security: retired retiring soldiers to become informants

    As parts of efforts to enhance national security, the Nigerian Armed Forces Resettlement Centre (NAFRC) Oshodi on Thursday trained 256 soon to retire soldiers on community intelligence gathering.

    The two-day seminar, first in the military, is aimed at equipping participants of Course 01 2019 comprising 135 from the Nigerian Navy (NN) and 123 Nigerian AirForce  (NAF) billed for retirement in June, with knowledge and skills to gather useful intelligence in their communities which will be passed to security agencies for action.

    Declaring the training themed “community intelligence gathering: panacea for enhanced national security,” open, the Chief of Defence Staff (CDS) Gen. Gabriel Olonisakin said it had elevated the status of NAFRC from an entrepreneurship and managerial skills acquisition centre to the pedestal of a research institution where academic discussions, workshops and researches aimed at proffering solutions to teething national security challenges take place.

    Olonisakin said while the retiring personnel are expected to retire into productive civilian life, they are nonetheless expected to still play important roles towards tackling security challenges bedevilling the country.

    “National security challenges require cooperation and synergy of all elements of national power as well as the citizenry to tackle. Our retired military personnel by their training, patriotic zeal and commitment could contribute to the attainment of the desired national security.

    “It is on this premise that I approved the conduct of this seminar for trainees of Course 1/2019. The seminar will expose our trainees to the best practices in national security. It will also refocus attention to the potentials of engaging military retirees as the eyes and ears of the fovernment in their various communities,” he said.

    Olonisakin said the seminar would sensitise participants on certain key indicators and occurrences within the communities they reside which could be detrimental to national security.

    “Therefore, as a patriotic citizen, the onus is on you to inform the authorities to enable them take appropriate action. It is believed that if this new approach in collaborative national security had been emplaced in the past, some of the teething national security challenges we are confronting today could have been nipped in the bud.

    “The theme of the seminar reflects the refocus on the engagement of retired military personnel for an enhanced national security. The attainment of the desired national security is a collaborative effort of the citizens and security agencies. This collaboration starts from the grassroots, neighbourhoods and communities.

    “The communities are at the base of our national security architecture. Security occurrences at the community level are invariably reflected at the national security level,” he said.

    The CDS who also inaugurated remodelled 16 blocks accommodation for officers and soldiers, praised NAFRC Commandant Air Vice Marshal (AVM) Abubakar-Sadick Liman and previous heads of the centres for always generating ideas to transform the institution into one of global reckoning.

    In his keynote address, the National Security Adviser (NSA) Babagana Mungonu said the trainees did not just put in long years of service but exhibited resilience, discipline and dedication to duty.

    He said there was need for credible intelligence gathering to fight crime, adding that crime and criminalities have the propensity of geometric progression, hence the need for retired personnel to volunteer intelligence.

    “Most sophisticated criminal rings, cartels or organized crimes including terrorism such as Boko Haram insurgency were bred and nurtured by the silence of people in the immediate society.

    “Considering that they cannot be everywhere at a time, security operatives in carrying out their onerous tasks, depend on members of the society for information. Upon reintegration into the society and normal civil life, you are in better position to gather, manage and transmit these information to the appropriate government agency. It is expected of you then as Ex Servicemen to be devoid of fear which usually discourages other informants from volunteering their information.

    “Upon retirement, the responsibility of national security still lies on you, but this time on a conscience-based dimension. Your relevance would thenceforth depend largely on your level of patriotism, good judgment and knowledge acquired.”

    The commandant said even at retirement, the personnel were expected to make useful contributions to improving security, adding that the training was to abreast them with basic knowledge on community intelligence gathering.

    He said seminar was borne out of the fact that the country was facing myriad of security challenges that require all hands to be on deck for peace and development to be achieved.

    “It could enhance our national security by augmenting

    the efforts of security agencies in detecting and informing the government of any development that could lead to a breach of

    peace and security in the nation. Such information would enable the Government to nip any ugly security situation in the bud. “This seminar is the first of its kind in the history of NAFRC. It is part of the on-going strategic transformation of the centre to reposition it as a worid class citadel of learning.

    The transformation process of the centre has witnessed tremendous renovation of infrastructural facilities, upgrade, modernisation and re-equipping of workshop equipment.

    “Other aspects of the transformation process include the envisaged change of name, mandate mission and curriculum of NAFRC. Towards this end, new workshops that are relevant to the aspirations of our retiring personnel have been introduced.”

     

  • Video: Air force neutralises several terrorists near Baga

    The Nigerian Air Force (NAF) says the Air Task Force (ATF) of Operation LAFIYA DOLE has neutralised several Islamic State of West Africa Province (ISWAP) fighters at their hideout near Baga in Northern Borno.

    NAF Director of Public Relations and Information, Air Commodore Ibikunle Daramola, who disclosed this in a statement on Sunday in Abuja, said the operation was carried  out on Saturday.

    He explained that the attack was conducted after a NAF Intelligence, Surveillance and Reconnaissance (ISR) platform spotted the terrorists assembled under some trees around the Fish Dam near Baga.

    Daramola said the ATF therefore, dispatched an Alpha Jet aircraft to attack the location.

    ” The aircraft multiple attack passes, killing several of the terrorists and causing serious injuries to others.
    “The surviving terrorists were mopped-up in subsequent follow on strikes,” the spokesman said. (NAN)

  • Dismissed Lance Corporals, others held for lorry ‘hijack’

    Two dismissed Lance Corporals, a fake soldier and two others have been arrested by the police in Lagos for allegedly hijacking a vegetable oil laden truck at Epe.

    The suspects, Akintola Abiodun of the Nigerian Air Force (13NAF/89/8811), Moses Johnson of the army (13NA/69/8811), Monday Ayele, 42, Esowanne Emeka, 30, and the fake soldier Osegbu Chidi, 30, were paraded on Wednesday  by Police Commissioner Imohimi Edgal.

    According to Edgal, the suspects were notorious highway armed robbers, who specialised in intercepting, diverting lorries in that axis.

    He said the command had received several complaints from victims of military men hijacking vehicles carrying goods, adding that with the arrest of the suspects, it has been established that the perpetrators of the crime were criminals impersonating the military.

    Edgal said the suspects were arrested on Sunday night after they hijacked a Sterling truck with registration number LSR266XW carrying vegetable oil worth N13,250,000 million.

    He said: “They stopped the Kano State bound truck close to Ijebu Ode and pushed the conductor and the driver out of the vehicle. However, as the duo were trekking towards Epe, Lagos, they came across a policeman and narrated their ordeal to him.

    “The policeman immediately contacted some of the police stations along the route taken by the robbers. At about 10:30pm, policemen on stop and search duty, saw the truck coming and intercepted it. In the process, Ayele and Emeka were arrested.

    “During interrogation, they mentioned the others as part of those who hijacked the truck.

    “The truck and the goods were recovered intact and all the suspects have been identified by the victims. Suspects will be charged to court at the conclusion of investigation.”

    However, the ex-personnel, who were dismissed for allegedly aiding Boko Haram and riotous behaviour, denied involvement in the hijack.

    They claimed they were only invited by one Oloja for escort duty. While Johnson said he was promised N10,000 to escort the truck, Abiodun disclosed that his fee was N20,000.

    Admitting it was wrong to have worn military camouflage years after they had been dismissed, the duo said they usually used the attire for escort duties so as to get money to feed.

    Narrating how his truck was hijacked, the driver, Rabiu Kazeem said: “I saw a hilux with amber light. It flagged me down and I saw some men with soldiers uniform. I stopped and they told me to get down. I asked them what I have done but they brought out their gun.

    Read Also: Man breaks into shop, steals N180,000 goods

    “My conductor jumped into the bush. Since I was alone, I could not do much. I stepped down but I didn’t  go far. I sat on an iron underneath the vehicle and clung to its arm rest because I wanted to know where they were taking the truck to.

    “But one of them who was on a bike saw me. I did not know he was their member. He told me to come down that he will help me pursue them, that it was dangerous for me to stay in that position.

    “I listened to him but instead of pursuing the truck, he became slow and so, I raised alarm. People in the community came out and I explained what happened, begged them to hold that man while I entered another vehicle to look for them.

    On our way to look for them, we saw Rapid Response Squad (RRS) patrol vehicle and informed them about what happened.

    “I am so grateful to the police for rescuing this truck and the product. If not, the owner would have sent me to jail that I sold his goods, whereas, it was armed robbers that took them.”

  • Insurgency: We are combat-ready says Chief Of Air Staff

    The Chief of Air Staff, Air Mashai Sadiq Babba Abubakar on Tuesday in Kano said the continuous training and re-training of operational pilots have greatly enhanced the fight against insurgency and other violent crimes in troubled areas like Zamfara, Kaduna, and the North-East regions.

    Speaking during the graduation ceremony of eight operational pilots who were trained on Basic Flying Course 18, at the 403 Flying Training School Kano, said the Nigerian Airforce has graduated 90 operational pilots within the last two years.

    According to him, “So far, in the last three years, we have graduated 90 operational pilots. Meanwhile, 27 student pilots are currently undergoing ab initio Flying Training at 401 Flying Training School, while six have just departed for training in South Africa.

    “Furthermore, about 700 Special Courses personnel have been trained for the defence of the Nigerian Airforce mission critical assets, while many personnel are undergoing engineering and other specialized Airforce-related training both at home and abroad.

    “I must, however, add that although a good number of airforce personnel are currently undergoing various training in over six institutions, with strategic importance of our indigenous training institutions, all to the attainment of my vision, cannot be over-emphasized.

    “This is why we have continued to support these activities that will give you the requisite knowledge, skills and exposure to better fulfill your task.

    “For instance, following the addition of Combat Rolls to 403 Flying Training School, with the re-rolling of L39-ZA Aircraft with combat operations, we gave tactical training to the instructor of pilots. Also we provided the resources needed for the Unit technicians to conduct 400 hours inspection on some of the aircrafts which enabled them to be flying today.”

    Read Also: I will end Boko Haram insurgency in short time – Atiku

    He further stated that, “The most pleasing thing about this ceremony today is that all the pilots, except one were trained here in Nigeria. This single feat by 403 Flying Training School and the Air Training Command, has saved for Nigeria government over $5 million.”

    He recalled that, “On assumption of office as the Chief of the Air Staff, I articulated my vision for the service which is to reposition the Nigeria Air force into a highly professional and disciplined Force through capacity building initiative for effective, efficient and timely employment of airpower in response to Nigeria’s national security apparatus.

    “Indeed, this graduation ceremony of Basic Flying Course 18 and the resurgence of young pilots in the North are good testimonies that the vision has started manifesting. Following extensive training, platform acquisition and reactivation of grounded aircrafts, as well as resuscitation of unserviceable equipment, the Nigerian Air force can now mostly fulfill its roles across the spectrum of the airpower task.

    “Nevertheless, the rebuilding     process continues as we strive to consolidate by enhancing our manpower capacity and improving upon the statutory status of our aircraft fleets.

    “One of the critical drivers of my vision on human capacity development which entails the provision of qualitative training for our workforce is what is manifesting in this graduation ceremony. In this regard, a lot have been achieved.

    “We recently graduated 11 pilots from Westland Aviation of South Africa, 10 pilots from International Aviation College in Illorin, while 43 student pilots have completed their ab initio Flying Training at 401 Flying Training School in Kaduna.

    “I must therefore appreciate the Commander-In-Chief of Armed Forces of Nigeria, President Muhammadu Buhari (GCFR) for his continued support to the Nigerian Airforce. Please be assured that we will continue to do our utmost best to meet with the statutory responsibility of defending the territorial integrity of our nation, whether acting singularly, or in concert with other security agencies.

    “To this end, the Nigerian Airforce is committed to justifying the financial and moral support it has received from the Federal Government.”

  • Kwara assembly wades into Air Force, community land dispute

    Kwara assembly wades into Air Force, community land dispute

    The Kwara House of  Assembly on  Thursday urged the state government to pay compensation to Alagbado community in Eiyenkorin, a suburb of llorin, for the 20 hectares of land it sold to the Nigerian Airforce in  1985.

    The House made the plea after considering the report of a  petition submitted to its Committee on Public Petition.

    In the petition, the Alagbado community had alleged encroachment into its land by the Nigerian Airforce.

    But the Chairman of the committee, Muhammed Adebayo, said that the Nigerian Air Force had acquired the land since 1985 and compensation had been paid to the state government.

    The committee said the state government, however,  refused to pay compensation to the land owners following a dispute on the land with another community.

    The House, in its resolution, urged the state Ministry of Housing and Urban Development, the Bureau of  Lands and the Office of the Surveyor-General to demarcate the land acquired by the Nigerian Air Force.

    The House also urged Gov. Abdulfatah Ahmed to urgently direct the Bureau of Lands to pay the appropriate compensation to the rightful owners without further delay.

    It further called on the state Ministry of Housing and Urban Development to direct the Secretary, State Town Planning and Development Authority to stop issuing building approvals for any land in contention.

    Some lawmakers in their submissions recommended that punitive measures be meted against  town planning  officials  found wanting in the allocation of already acquired land to serve as deterrent to others.

    The Deputy Speaker, Mathew Okedare,  who presided over Thursday’s sitting, commended the committee for its brilliant submissions on the issue.