As part of efforts geared towards improving the operational skills of personnel in the fight against insurgency and other forms of criminality in the country, the Nigerian Air Force (NAF) Monday commissioned a Commando Village and inaugurated Combat Search and Rescue (CSAR) Course 2/2020 at the 209 Quick Response Group (QRG) at Ipetu-Ijesha, Osun state.
Speaking during the commissioning ceremony, governor of the state of Osun, Mr Adegboyega Oyetola, represented by his deputy, Mr Gboyega Alabi, while commending the NAF leadership for constructing the Commando Village, noted that it was one of the numerous efforts aimed at honing the skills and competencies of NAF personnel to be more effective in combating insurgency, banditry and other security threats in the nation.
He said the initiative, would no doubt send the right signal to the criminal elements that there is no more hiding place for them.
Oyetola also thanked the federal government for giving security of lives and property a priority.
“These aforementioned brilliant initiatives attest to the huge importance the federal government, under President Muhammadu Buhari, attaches to security and safety of the people of the South-west. I deeply appreciate Mr President for his love and concern for the people,” he said.
The governor further thanked the CAS for his visionary leadership and ingenuity that translated to the provision of welfare for officers, airmen/airwomen as well as the building of their capacity for optimum service delivery.
He assured of the state’s readiness to provide necessary support for the success of the laudable efforts of the NAF in providing security for the people.
Chief of Air Staff (CAS), Air Marshal Sadique Abubakar, who was represented by the Air Officer Commanding (AOC), Ground Training Command (GTC), Air Vice Marshal Idi Amin, said the event marked the fulfillment of his promise during Exercise Buje Ekun in December 2019 to improve the training facilities at NAF Base, Ipetu-Ijesha for the training of personnel in specific area of needs, such as jungle warfare, should the NAF Special Forces be required to contribute in dealing with Internal Security challenges in the South-south or South-west of the country.
“In contemporary times, insecurities around the world were more often caused by non-state actors and are fought in built-up areas such as towns and villages.
“There was need to give personnel training in such environments, which have their own complexities, in order to familiarise them with such terrains.
