Air force set to deploy more troops to Niger Delta
– The Nigerian Air Force (NAF) has disclosed its plan to deploy additional personnel to the Niger Delta – The deployment is part of the resolve to combat militancy and other forms of internal security challenges in the region
– The Chief of the Air Staff CAS also made a courtesy visit to office of the executive Governor of Bayelsa state, Seriake Disckson
The Chief of the Air Staff (CAS), Air Mshl Sadique Abubakar has disclosed the plan by the Nigerian Air Force (NAF) to deploy additional personnel to the Niger Delta as part of the resolve to combat militancy and other forms of internal security challenges in the region. Abubakar made the disclosure in Yenagoa while on an operational visit to NAF Mobility Command.
The planned deployment is aimed at strengthening the existing NAF manpower disposition, especially in Bayelsa State, and to enhance the NAF involvement in OPERATION DELTA SAFE. Preparatory to this deployment, new facilities were recently put in place to cater for accommodation and other welfare needs of the personnel. These include the construction of new blocks of accommodation for officers and men, office accommodation, airmen mess, and provost squadron, which were commissioned recently.
Two of the airmen’s block of accommodation were named after Corporal Omaka VI and Aircraftman Ofonih EF, both of whom were killed recently in Bosso, Niger State during an Internal Security Operation.
Air Vice Marshal Larry Koinyan (retired) commissioned the newly constructed projects as the Guest of Honour. Koinyan, speaking at the commissioning ceremony applauded NAF personnel for their courage and resounding successes brought about by the renewed vigour at ensuring peace and stability in the various theatres of operations across the country.
He also called on the Bayelsans to partner with the federal government to provide holistic solutions to the problems of the Niger Delta.
Earlier during the visit, the CAS made a courtesy call on the Executive Governor of Bayelsa State, Seriake Disckson who stated that “his administration is ready to partner with the NAF and other Security Agencies because the Government of Bayelsa understands the importance of security and the need for the State to be safe for economic prosperity”.
During the project commissioning ceremony, Governor Dickson also promised that his government would partner with the NAF to build NAF primary and secondary schools in the state to enable Bayelsans benefit from the quality education provided by NAF with a view to bringing about discipline and reorientation among youths in the State. The schools are to be located on NAF Base Yenagoa. NAF recently carried out air raids on Boko Haram commanders at a terrorist camp at Tumbun Rego in northern Borno.
The air force in a statement on Thursday, September 1, said the attack on the Boko Haram camp was carried out on August 29, 2016. It stated that intelligence report had it that some Boko Haram commanders, who survived an air assault on the night of 20 August 2016, leading to the death of over 300 insurgents, had sustained serious injuries and were said to have relocated to the camp at Tumbun Rego for medical treatment.
