As fighter jets attack location of Boko Haram leadership
Two months after deploying more combat aircraft to the Niger Delta, the Nigerian Air Force has said it is set to deploy more personnel to the troubled region.
The new deployments occur despite a unilateral ceasefire by a major militant group in the region, the Niger Delta Avengers. The group, responsible for most of the attacks on oil and gas facilities in the region in the past year, two weeks ago expressed its willingness for conditional dialogue.
Sunday’s announcement by the Air Force also occurs one week after President Muhammadu Buhari threatened to deal with the Avengers like the government is currently dealing militarily with the Boko Haram terror group in North-eastern Nigeria.
The new Air Force deployment was announced by the Chief of Air Staff, Air Marshal Sadique Abubakar, at the weekend, according to a statement by the Air Force spokesperson, Group Captain Ayodele Famuyiwa.
Mr. Famuyiwa said the new deployment was part of the resolve to combat militancy and other forms of internal security challenges in the region.
He said Mr. Abubakar disclosed this in Yenagoa during his visit to NAF Mobility Command.
He said: “The planned deployment is aimed at strengthening the existing NAF manpower disposition, especially in Bayelsa and to enhance Nigerian Air Force (NAF) involvement in `Operation Delta Safe,” Mr. Abubakar was quoted as saying by the spokesperson.
“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’s mess and provost squadron which were commissioned recently.”
According to the statement, two of the airmen’s blocks of accommodation have been named after Cpl. Omaka V.I. and Aircraftman Ofonih E.F., both of whom were killed in Bosso, Niger, during an Internal Security Operation.
Retired Air Vice Marshall Larry Koinyan commissioned the newly-constructed projects as the guest of honour.
The Air Force deployment follows similar ones by the Army and the Navy to quell the militancy in the region which reduced the country’s oil production by half and also damaged power infrastructure.
In his remarks, Mr. Koinyan applauded the Air Force personnel for their courage and successes following their renewed vigour at ensuring peace and stability in the various theatres of operations in the country.
He, however, called on the people of Bayelsa to support the Federal Government’s effort at solving the problems of the region once and for all.
Earlier, Mr. Abubakar paid a courtesy call on Governor Henry Dickson of Bayelsa, who gave assurance that his administration was ready to partner NAF and other security agencies in their bid to rid the state of criminal activities.
Mr. Dickson said it had become necessary because Bayelsa government understood the importance of security and the need for the state to be safe for economic prosperity.
He also promised that his government would partner the service to build Air Force primary and secondary schools in the state to enable Bayelsa residents benefit from the quality education provided by such schools.
The governor noted that the discipline and re-orientation of the youth in the state would further be enhanced at the Air Force base in Yenagoa where the schools would be sited.
Also at the weekend, Nigerian Air Force (NAF) said it has successfully bombed a Boko Haram Terrorist (BHT) camp at Tumbun Rego in Northern Borno where some wounded commanders of the notorious sect were believed tobe receiving treatment.
NAF spokesperson, Group Captain Ayodele Famuyiwa, said in a statement that the attack was in a series of another well-coordinated air operations conducted on 29 August 2016.
He said: “Intelligence report has it that some BHT commanders, who survived the 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 subsequently to the Camp at Tumbun Rego for medical treatment.
“The latest strike followed the trail of this piece of intelligence to neutralise these suspected leaders of the sect who are high value targets.
“While the NAF is yet to ascertain the casualty figure, post-strike Battle Damage Assessment mission shows that the degree of damage achieved was devastating as the buildings were engulfed by large fire as can be seen from the declassified video of the air operation.”
NAN
