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Tag: naf

  • Badeh’s death: Atiku faults Nigeria’s security system, advises Buhari

    Badeh’s death: Atiku faults Nigeria’s security system, advises Buhari

    The presidential candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Atiku Abubakar, has said the assassination of former Chief of Defence Staff, Alex Badeh should be blamed on rising insecurity in the country.

    Badeh, a four-star General of the Nigerian Air Force (NAF), was shot dead on Tuesday along Abuja-Keffi Road.

    Atiku, in a statement issued on Wednesday by his Special Assistant on Public Communication, Phrank Shaibu, said had gunmen not waylaid the vehicle in which Alex Badeh was travelling, he would not have sustained the gunshots and the health complications that terminated his life.

    Abubakar said while Badeh’s death made headline news because of the personality involved, many ordinary Nigerians are either killed or maimed on a daily basis by rampaging armed robbers, kidnappers, herdsmen and hoodlums across the country.

    The former vice president noted that the best tribute that President Muhammadu Buhari can pay to the late security chief is to ensure free and fair polls next year and return home to a well-deserved rest.

    The statement read: “We cannot continue to pretend that all is well with the security system in our country, where armed robbers seem to be having a field day.

    “It is, therefore, time to look at credible options, especially electing a more prepared candidate who will ensure that policemen and women are well equipped and motivated. Fortunately, the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) had shown what can be achieved when the police are provided with adequate resources and are well motivated.

    “It is no longer news that during the 16 years when the PDP was in power, the nation boasted of the better motivated, best equipped and best-mobilized policemen in the country.

    “We are shocked and saddened by the circumstances of the death Mr Badeh, an air chief marshal, whom was a fine officer, among the best of his time, one who never lost touch with officers and men despite holding several top positions in the nation’s military establishment.”

    Abubakar further prayed that God will grant repose to Badeh’s soul and comfort those he left behind.

  • Operation Green Sweep: NAF destroys Boko Haram camp in Borno

    The Nigerian Air Force (NAF) says Air Task Force (ATF) of Operation Lafiya Dole has destroyed a Boko Haram Terrorist (BHT) Camp at Buk along the Ajigin-Talala-Buk axis near Alagarno forest in Borno.

    Air Commodore Ibikunle Daramola, NAF Director of Public Relations and Information, announced this in a statement on Friday in Abuja.

    According to Daramola the operation was carried out on Wednesday.

    ” The operation was conducted after intelligence, Surveillance and Reconnaissance missions led to the discovery of a new camp with structures hidden under the thick vegetation, including a suspected BHT Tactical Command and Control (C2) Centre.

    ” Accordingly, an Alpha Jet aircraft and two Mi-35 attack helicopters were detailed to attack the camp, inflicting significant damage to the C2 Centre,” he said.

    The spokesman said the NAF, working in concert with surface forces, would sustain the tempo of operations with a view to destroying all remnants of the terrorists in Borno.

    The NAF through the ATF on Wednesday commenced “Operation Green Sweep” “an air Interdiction” targeting selected BHT locations within the fringes of Lake Chad as well as areas around the Alagarno Forest near Sambisa in Borno.

    The NAF said the operation is aimed at further degrading the remnants of the terrorists, curtailing their freedom of action and denying them bases from which they could launch attacks.

  • EFCC re-arraigns former Chief of Air Staff, Amosu

    The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) on Tuesday re-arraigned a former Chief of Air Staff, retired Air Marshall Adesola Amosu, before a Federal High Court in Lagos, over alleged N21.4 billion fraud.

    Amosu was re-arraigned alongside AVM Jacob Adigun and Air Commodore Olugbenga Gbadebo, on a 13-count charge.

    The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the trio was first arraigned in June 2016, alongside some companies before Justice Mohammed Idris.

    Their re-arraignment before Justice Chukwujekwu Aneke on Tuesday followed the elevation of Justice Idris to the Court of Appeal.

    They pleaded not guilty to the charges while the court allowed them to continue with the bail granted by the previous judge.

    NAN also reports that as a result of Justice Idris’ elevation, Amosu’s trial which has lasted over two years in court is beginning afresh before Aneke.

    In the amended charge, the EFCC dropped the names of the companies which were joined as accused in the earlier charge.

    The companies are: Delfina Oil and Gas Ltd, Mcallan Oil and Gas Ltd, Hebron Housing and Properties Company Ltd, Trapezites BDC, Fonds and Pricey Ltd and Solomon healthcare Ltd.

    Prior to their re-arraignment on Tuesday, Justice Aneke, had in a ruling rejected the prayer by the defence that the companies whose names were removed from the charge be first pronounced discharged and acquitted before any further action.

    But Justice Aneke in his ruling faulted the argument of the defence and directed that the amended charges be read to the accused.

    In the first count, the EFCC alleged that the accused conspired to covert a total sum of N21.4 billion property of the Nigerian Air Force which sum they reasonably ought to have known formed part of proceeds of a criminal breach of trust.

    The anti-graft agency alleged that the accused persons diverted the sums using several companies.

    The prosecution said that the accused committed the offences on March 5, 2014.

    It said that the offences contravened the provisions of Sections 15 and 18(a) of the Money Laundering (Prohibition) Act, 2011

    Aneke adjourned the case until Nov. 14 for continuation of trial.

    NAN

  • Breaking: NAF redeploys AOC Kaduna, 28 other senior officers

    Following renewed violence in Kaduna, the Nigerian Air Force (NAF) has redeployed two Air Officers Commanding (AOCs), including the AOC in charge of the Air Training Command (ATC) in Kaduna State.
    TheNewsGuru (TNG) reports this is contained in a statement signed by NAF Director of Public Relations and Information, Air Commodore I. O. Daramola.
    According to the statement, 27 other senior officers were also affected in the redeployment, which NAF said was part of routine exercise aimed at ensuring operational efficiency and effectiveness.
    The NAF statement reads in full: “The Nigerian Air Force (NAF) has redeployed 2 Air Officers Commanding (AOCs) and 27 other senior officers as part of routine exercise aimed at ensuring operational efficiency and effectiveness.
    “The newly appointed AOCs are Air Vice Marshal (AVM) Mohammed Suleiman, who is now the AOC Air Training Command (ATC), Kaduna, and AVM Idi Amin, who has been moved to Ground Training Command (GTC), Enugu as AOC.
    “Also redeployed are AVM Dayo Adeluoye as Director of Strategy, Defence Headquarters (DHQ), AVM Olusoji Awomodu, who is now the Director of Evaluation, DHQ and AVM Tunde Awoyoola as Director of Operations DHQ.
    “In the same vein, AVM Ismaila Kaita, the erstwhile AOC GTC, has now been appointed as the Deputy Commandant Nigerian Defence Academy (NDA); AVM Mohammed Idris, who was the immediate past AOC ATC, is now the Deputy Chief of Defence Space Agency while AVM Charles Ohwo is now the Director of Operations, Headquarters NAF (HQ NAF).
    “Also redeployed are Air Commodore Christopher Egwoba, who is now Director of Evaluation, HQ NAF; Air Commodore Amos Bulus, as Director of Information Technology, HQ NAF; Group Captain Francis Edosa as Commander 307 Executive Airlift Group, Abuja; Group Captain Abiodun Oyekunle as Acting Managing Director NAF Housing Construction Company; Group Captain Haliru Badamasi as Director of Works, HQ NAF and Wing Commander Dooyum Laha as Commander 401 Flying Training School, Kaduna”.
     

  • NAF decimates Boko Haram hideout in Bogum, Borno

    The Nigerian Air Force says its Air Task Force (ATF) of Operation Lafiya Dole has decimated a Boko Haram Terrorist (BHT) hideout and neutralised several insurgents at Bogum in Northern Borno.
    Air Commodore Ibikunle Daramola, NAF Director of Public Relations and Information, made this known in a statement on Monday.
    Daramola, who noted that the attack was carried out on Sunday, added that the action followed intelligence report that the insurgents had been carrying out activities within the settlement.
    He stated that “the ATF used two Mi-35 Helicopter Gunships to engage and destroy the identified BHT positions in the village.
    “The task force focused on concentration areas of the insurgents and attacked in successive waves with direct hits on the targets, leading to the neutralisation of several BHTs.
    “The few surviving insurgents were tracked and mopped up in subsequent attacks.”
    The director added that NAF was working with surface forces and would sustain the tempo of operations with a view to destroying remnants of the terrorists on the fringes of Lake Chad and other areas in Northern Borno.
     

  • Flood: 4,000 victims benefit from NAF medical outreach in Bayelsa

    Flood: 4,000 victims benefit from NAF medical outreach in Bayelsa

    The Nigerian Air Force (NAF) says it has begun a five-day medical outreach for nearly 4,000 Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs) in Bayelsa.
    Air Commodore Ibikunle Daramola, NAF Director of Public Relations and Information, made this known in a statement on Friday in Abuja.
    Daramola said the medical intervention holding at Igbogene Community in Yenagoa Local Government Area was an initiative of the Chief of Air Staff (CAS), Air Marshal Sadique Abubakar.
    He said that Abubakar had directed the NAF Medical Services unit to take necessary steps toward ameliorating the suffering of the victims of the flood disaster.
    The director quoted Abubakar as saying that NAF would always be ready to deploy its resources in alleviating the hardship faced by Nigerians.
    CAS urged the IDPs to take advantage of the high quality and free medical services that would be provided for them, saying that eye surgeries would be carried out at the NAF Medical Centre in Yenagoa.
    The director said that the chief of air staff was represented at the opening ceremony by the Air Officer Commanding Mobility Command (AOC MC), AVM Napoleon Bali.
    He said that some of the beneficiaries of the outreach,which also had officials from the Bayelsa State Emergency Management Agency, State Ministry of Health and Nigerian Red Cross Society who were in attendance, expressed appreciation to the NAF for coming to their aid.
    He said that the medical outreach would also cater for the medical needs of women, children and the aged affected by flooding.
    Daramola said that services that would be provided during the five- day medical outreach include free medical consultations and drugs, laboratory investigations, prescription eyeglasses, and treated mosquito nets.
    The NAF spokesman said that there would also be general and eye surgeries for those with conditions requiring minor surgical interventions.
    He said that the outreach was part of the NAF’s humanitarian efforts geared toward alleviating the suffering of the victims of the recent flood disaster caused by heavy rainfall in parts of the country.
    Meanwhile, the NAF had recently conducted medical outreaches for flood victims at Zungeru in Wushishi Local Government Area of Niger and Jibia in Jibia Local Government Area of Katsina State, totalling 5,000 beneficiaries.
     

  • NAF deploys Air Assets to Plateau

    The Nigerian Air Force (NAF) said it had deployed an EC-135 helicopter and an Intelligence Surveillance and Reconnaissance (ISR) aircraft to Plateau.
    Air Commodore Ibikunle Daramola, NAF Director of Public Relations and Information, disclosed this in a statement on Saturday in Abuja.
    Daramola said NAF also deployed an additional detachment of Regiment Personnel to Plateau in support of efforts aimed at quelling the crisis that recently erupted in the state and restoring normalcy.
    ” The deployment of the ISR aircraft is expected to enhance intelligence gathering while the helicopter would conduct air support missions in close coordination with surface forces of Operation SAFE HAVEN.
    ” Meanwhile, NAF L-39 fighter aircraft, operating from Kano, have commenced armed reconnaissance missions over known flash points within the State,” he said.
    The NAF spokesman said that other NAF air assets were also available at other nearby airfields to provide additional support to hasten the process of restoring normalcy in the state.
    NAN

  • Boko Haram: NAF Jets destroys meeting venue, kill insurgents

    The Nigeria Air Force (NAF) disclosed on Monday that Boko Haram meeting place at Jabullam in Borno state has been destroyed with air strikes.
    The Spokesman of the NAF, Air Commodore Ibikunle Daramola said in a statement that the strikes were conducted through the Air Task Force of Operation Lafiya Dole after an intelligence report had established the presence of the terrorists in the buildings.
    Air Commodore Daramola also said some terrorists were killed during the air strikes.
    The statement reads: ” The Air Task Force (ATF) of Operation LAFIYA DOLE has destroyed a Boko Haram Terrorist (BHT) meeting venue at Jabullam in Northern Borno State.
    “The attack was carried out on 28 September 2018 following credible human intelligence reports indicating that some buildings within the settlement were being used for meetings attended by BHT leaders.
    “Accordingly, following confirmatory Intelligence, Surveillance and Reconnaissance (ISR) missions which identified the target building and surrounding structures, the ATF detailed a Nigerian Air Force (NAF) Alpha Jet aircraft, which attacked the location and recorded direct hits on the target leading to the obliteration of the building and neutralization of the BHT occupants. ”
    “The NAF, working in concert with surface forces, will sustain the momentum of operations with a view to destroying remnants of the terrorists in the fringes of Lake Chad and other areas in Northern Borno”.

  • NAF fighter jets neutralises Boko Haram terrorists camps in Borno

    The Nigerian Air Force (NAF) says the Air Task Force (ATF) of “Operation LAFIYA DOLE” has neutralised Boko Haram terrorists camps at Zanari and Tunbun Rego, in Borno.

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

    ” The NAF ATF of Operation LAFIYA DOLE has recorded further gains in the ongoing air interdiction operations designed to wipe out remnants of Boko Haram Terrorists (BHTs) within the fringes of Lake Chad.

    ” This occurred as the ATF on Aug.20 conducted air strikes on BHT camps at Zanari and Tunbun Rego in Borno State.

    ” The air strikes at Zanari were planned and executed based on intelligence reports indicating that the BHTs had established a training camp in the village and were converging in an area prior to departing for an attack on own troops locations around the Lake Chad area.

    “Accordingly, the ATF scrambled II NAF Alpha Jet aircraft for a pre-emptive strike on two specified locations within Zanari, where the BHTs were assembled,” he said.

    Daramola said that the fighter aircraft acquired and attacked both locations, neutralizing several BHTs, with only few survivors seen fleeing the area, adding that ” these were later mopped up by follow-on rocket strikes”.

    ” Similarly, another identified BHT rendezvous point and staging area on the outskirts of Tunbun Rego was also attacked and destroyed by the Alpha Jets,” the spokesman said.

    He said that the NAF would continue to deploy its platforms to conduct intensive Intelligence Surveillance and Reconnaissance missions in the entire Northeast aimed at discovering the possible locations of remnants of BHTs and neutralising them.

  • NAF wipes out notorious armed bandits hideouts

    The Nigerian Air Force (NAF) says the Air Task Force of “ Operation Diran Mikiya’’ has successfully degraded several notorious armed bandits hideouts in Shamashale village and Rugu forest in Zamfara.

    Air Commodore Ibikunle Daramola, NAF Director of Public Relations and Information, disclosed this in a statement on Sunday in Abuja.

    “The attacks, which were executed in support of ground troops in Sector 2 of Operation `Sharan Daji’, were planned based on credible intelligence that the kingpin and his group of armed bandits were using an abandoned primary school in Shamashale.’’ he said.

    He said that the bandits also used some makeshift settlements in nearby Rugu forest in the Eastern part of Zamfara as bases for their operations.

    Daramola explained that the attack at Shamashale was conducted on Aug. 15 following further confirmatory Intelligence Surveillance and Reconnaissance (ISR) missions that revealed the presence of several armed bandits in the area.

    “Accordingly, the ATF dispatched two combat helicopters to attack the location. During the attack, some bandits carrying sophisticated high calibre weapons were seen trying to flee the area.

    “Some were on motorcycles carrying AK-47 rifles and, rather than dropping their weapons and surrendering, attempted to shoot at the helicopters; hence they were neutralised.

    “Battle Damage Assessment (BDA) conducted on Aug.16 confirmed that the kingpin’s main hideout had been severely degraded and human intelligence sources later availed pictures of some of the slain bandits”, he said.

    Daramola said that items recovered from the armed bandits include two General Purpose Machine Guns (GPMGs), two AK 47 rifles, 100 rounds of 7.62mm ammunition and two mobile phones.

    “The adjoining settlement camps within Rugu Forest, which had earlier been confirmed by HUMINT sources to be inhabited by only bandits, were attacked on Aug.18.

    “A ground attack aircraft and two combat helicopters struck the camps in successive waves; first targeting the shelters and then executing follow-on attacks to ensure the threat posed to the local villagers was adequately dealt with.

    “The ATF would continue to dominate the area through armed reconnaissance and air interdiction missions to completely decimate the armed bandits in order to ensure a return to normalcy in Zamfara and other States in the North West,” he said.

    The NAF spokesman advised all persons involved in armed banditry in the area to renounce violence, surrender to security agencies and hand over their weapons.