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  • NAF gunships kill bandits in Zamfara forests

    The Nigerian Air Force has killed a large number of bandits operating in Sububu, Birnin Magaji and Rugu Forests in Zamfara State.

    The NAF Air Task Force for ‘Operation Diran Mikiya’ neutralised the criminals during armed reconnaissance missions conducted from August 9-11, 2018.

    The NAF Director of Public Relations and Information, Air Comm. Ibikunle Daramola said in a statement in Abuja on Monday that the attack at Sububu Forest was executed on the afternoon of August 9 following the discovery of a bandits’ hideout within the area.

    Daramola explained that earlier in the morning, the ATF had conducted a coordinated clearance operation involving NAF Special Forces at a suspected armed bandits’ camp on the outskirts of Galadi in the Northwest of Zamfara State.

    During the operation, he said, the bandits were discovered to have vacated the camp and dispersed into the nearby Sububu Forest.

    “Consequently, the ATF dispatched a combat aircraft for armed reconnaissance to seek out and destroy the bandits. The aircraft subsequently spotted a large number of bandits within the forest and neutralised them,” he stated.

    The NAF narrated that on August 10, a combat helicopter on a reconnaissance mission spotted a group of bandits, armed with automatic weapons and mounted on motorcycles, at a location about 6km Northeast of Birnin Magaji in the Eastern part of Zamfara State.

    From all indications, it added, the armed bandits were advancing for an attack on Birnin Magaji, noting that a helicopter gunship was scrambled to provide additional combat support.

    Both helicopters effectively engaged the armed bandits and neutralized many of them, the Air Force stated.

    The NAF further said the ATF conducted another successful attack that neutralized armed bandits at Rugu Forest on August 11, noting that the mission was initiated based on credible intelligence that a location on the fringes of Rugu Forest near Ajia, in the Eastern part of Zamfara State, was being used by the bandits as a logistics staging area for the supply of arms and ammunition.

    “Accordingly, a fighter aircraft and helicopter gunship were dispatched to attack the location within the forest. Upon arrival over the objective, several armed bandits were seen on motorcycles. They were attacked and neutralized in successive strikes by the two aircraft,” the statement said.

  • NAF commences free medical, surgical services to IDPs in Zamfara

    NAF commences free medical, surgical services to IDPs in Zamfara

    The Nigerian Air Force (NAF) has commenced free medical and surgical services to Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs) in Shinkafi Local Government Area of Zamfara.

    Group Capt. Azubuike Chukwuka, the Director, Public Health and Humanitarian Services, Medical Services of the Nigerian Air Force, said at the launch of the programme in Marafa Umaru Primary School IDPs camp in Shinkafi on Friday.

    He said that the outreach was targeting 4,000 beneficiaries and 120 surgeries, explaining that the gesture was one of social and community service programmes of NAF.

    He added that “due to insecurity issues in Zamfara, the Defence Headquarters embarked on Operation Sharandaji, as a result, the Chief of Air Staff, Air Marshal Sadeeque Abubakar, directed the deployment of Air Force troops to the area.

    “It is our tradition wherever we are operating, we provide social and medical outreach to the host communities, that is why we are carrying out this exercise.

    “The aim of this intervention is to alleviate the sufferings of the people.

    “Our medical team has already been deployed and has started treating people with various health problems such as high blood pressure, diabetes, typhoid, malaria and eye problems.”

    He thanked the Shinkafi Local Government Council and the community for the support given them.

    The state’s Commissioner for Health, Alhaji Lawal Liman, thanked NAF for the gesture and described it as timely.

    He urged displaced persons who had to leave their areas due to bandits’ attacks to remain calm, saying that the state government in collaboration with security agencies was making efforts to end the crisis.

    He lauded the Federal Government for deploying troops to the state and urged the people to cooperate with the medical team for the success of the exercise.

    The Chairman of Shinkafi, Alhaji Sani Galadi, assured the medical team of the council’s support for successful exercise.

    So many people were displaced from their various communities in the three local government areas of Maradun, Shinkafi and Zurmi in Zamfara, following series of attacks by bandits.

     

  • Breaking: NAF appoints new spokesman

    Breaking: NAF appoints new spokesman

    The Nigerian Air Force (NAF) has appointed Air Commodore Ibikunle Daramola as the new spokesman to manage its public affairs activities with effect from 2 August 2018.

    TheNewsGuru reports the new Director of Public Relations and Information (DOPRI) took over from Air Vice Marshal (AVM) Olatokunbo Adesanya, who has been at the helms of Information management in the NAF since April 2017.

    AVM Adesanya will be departing the country shortly, following his appointment as Nigeria’s Defence Attache (DA) to Moscow, Russia.

    Air Commodore Ibikunle Daramola was the Commander, 041 Communications Depot, Shasha, Lagos before his recent appointment.

    He is a member of the Nigerian Defence Academy (NDA) Regular Course 39 and was commissioned into the NAF as a Regular Combatant officer in September 1991.

    Air Commodore Ibikunle Daramola holds a Master of Science Degree in Telecommunications Engineering from New Jersey Institute of Technology, Newark, New Jersey, United States of America and a Post Graduate Diploma in Telecommunications and Electronics Engineering from Obafemi Awolowo University, Ile-Ife.

    Air Commodore Daramola also holds a Bachelor of Science in Mathematics from NDA and a Certificate de Langue Francais from Alliance Francaise.

    Since joining the NAF, the new DOPRI has attended many military as well as professional courses, some of which include Electronics Engineering Officers’ Basic Course at 320 Technical Training Group, now Air Force Institute of Technology (AFIT), Kaduna as well as Junior and Senior Staff Courses at the prestigious Armed Forces Command and Staff College (AFCSC), Jaji.

    He was also a participant at the National Defence Course, National Defence University in Islamabad, Pakistan. He has also participated in several short courses, seminars and workshops within and outside Nigeria.

    The new NAF Spokesman has served in various units and Commands of the NAF. He was the Deputy Research Officer at the NAF Research & Development Centre and Chief Instructor Electronics Engineering Maintenance School at AFIT. Air Commodore Ibikunle Daramola was a Directing Staff, AFCSC, Jaji, Deputy Director Communications, Headquarters NAF (HQ NAF).

    He had a brief stint as the Deputy Director Plans, HQ NAF, Abuja. He is happily married and blessed with children. At his leisure time, the new DOPRI loves reading and listening to gospel music.

     

  • NAF deploys 52 senior officers to various formations

    The Nigerian Air Force (NAF) has redeployed 52 senior officers to various formations in the country.

    The redeployment comprises of 16 Air Vice Marshalls, 16 Air Commodores, Nine Group Captains and Four Squadron Leaders.

    According to a statement issued by NAF Director of Public Relations and Information, AVM Olatokunbo Adesanya on Thursday in Abuja, prominent among those affected by the deployment are 4 Branch Chiefs at the Headquarters Nigerian Air Force (HQ NAF) and one Air Officer Commanding.

    Also redeployed are other key appointment holders in the Service as part of a routine exercise aimed at further enhancing operational effectiveness and administrative efficiency.

    ” Also, redeployed , are other key appointment holders in the Service as part of a routine exercise aimed at further enhancing operational effectiveness and administrative efficiency,” he said.

    According to Adesanya, the newly appointed Branch Chiefs included AVM Charles Otegbade, who was the Director of Plans at HQ NAF, and is now the Chief of Communications and Information Systems (CCIS).

    ” In addition, AVM Kingsley Lar, who was the Chief of Standards and Evaluation (COSE), is now the Chief of Administration (COA).

    ” Others affected by the redeployment include AVM John Baba, the former Commandant, Air Force War College (AFWC), Makurdi, who is now the COSE as well as AVM Ibrahim Yahaya, the former COA, now the Chief of Logistics (CLOG),” he said

    Others redeployed are AVM Napoleon Bali, who was the Director of Operations at the HQ NAF, and now the Air Officer Commanding Mobility Command, Yenagoa, Bayelsa State and AVM Charles Oghomwen, who is now the Commandant, AFWC, Makurdi.

    Others include AVM AS Liman, who is now the Commandant Armed Forces Resettlement Centre (AFRC), Lagos, Air Commodore BB Okunola, now the Pioneer Commandant, NAF School of Medical Sciences and Aviation Medicine, Kaduna.

    Also, Air Commodore James Gwani, who has been appointed as the Commander Air Task Force (ATF) Operation LAFIYA DOLE.

  • Military to redouble efforts in fighting insecurity – CAS

    The Chief of Air Staff, Air Marshall Sadique Abubakar, has assured Nigerians that the Military will redouble its efforts to tackle the various security challenges in the country.

    Abubakar made this known during the inauguration of some projects at the Nigerian Air Force 209 Quick Response Group base in Ipetu-Ijesha, Osun state.

    He explained that the security challenges in the country ranging from farmers /herdsmen clashes in the middle belt to the insurgency in the North East among other vices necessitated the expansion of the Nigerian Air Force base.

    This, according to him, would enable them to provide swift responses to security emergencies in the southwestern region of the country.

    He also noted that as part of the development, 700 trained personnel have been deployed to the 209 Quick Response Group base.

    Abubakar expressed gratitude to the President for providing the necessary requirements for the Force to operate and therefore promised to do all it can to continue to secure the nation.

    He said: “We thank President Muhammadu Buhari who, in spite of the harsh economic realities has continued to avail us with necessary requirements to sustain our operations.

    “We will ensure the security of our people and uphold the democratic ideals for the progress and prosperity of our fatherland, while also ensuring that available resources are judiciously used,” he said.

    On the classroom project, the Chief Of Air Staff said it was inaugurated to increase the intake into the Air Force Primary School while the 10 block of flats was to provide accommodation for Air Force personnel.

     

  • NAF destroys Boko Haram logistics base at Tumbum Gini

    NAF destroys Boko Haram logistics base at Tumbum Gini

    The Nigerian Air Force (NAF) said its Air Task Force (ATF) of Operation LAFIYA DOLE has successfully destroyed a Boko Haram Terrorists (BHT) logistics base at Tumbum Gini in the northern axis of Borno.

    AVM Olatokunbo Adesanya, NAF’s Director of Public Relations and Information, who confirmed this in a statement issued on Saturday, in Abuja, said the operation was carried out on April 27.

    “‘A Nigerien Air Force Intelligence, Surveillance and Reconnaissance (ISR) aircraft conducted the Battle Damage Assessment (BDA) for the mission.

    ” The BDA revealed that the first wave of a Nigerian Air Force (NAF) Alpha Jet aircraft strike on the location totally destroyed the vehicles and other logistics items at the place thereby further degrading the terrorists’ capabilities.

    ” Furthermore, at the end of the attack, the entire BHT location was engulfed in fire and all the terrorists in the location were neutralised,” he said.

  • Buhari commissions NAF reference hospital in Bauchi

    The President and Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, President Muhammadu Buhari on Thursday, commissioned the newly constructed 261 Nigerian Air Force Reference Hospital in Bauchi.

    The establishment of the medical facility became necessary to specially provide additional medical support for members of the Armed Forces involved in counter insurgency operations in the Northeast. In his welcome address, the Chief of the Air Staff (CAS), Air Marshal Sadique Abubakar, stated that the services of the hospital would also be extended to civilians, which had been the tradition in the Nigerian Air Force (NAF).

    He added that the hospital is part of the efforts of the current NAF leadership to reform the healthcare system of the Service and to support the on-going counter insurgency operations by ensuring the availability of immediate quality medical care to those injured in active service.

    Speaking further, the CAS stated that the NAF is using its medical facilities in its campaign of “Winning Hearts and Minds of the populace”, which has been a major component of its counter insurgency strategy in the Northeast. He acknowledged that the achievements would not have been possible without the support of President Buhari. He therefore expressed profound appreciation to the President for the support that the NAF, and indeed the Armed Forces of Nigeria (AFN), had been enjoying under the current Federal Government Administration.

    He also specially thanked the President for putting the Service on a trajectory that is fast restoring its glory, noting that under his administration, 15 new aircraft had been inducted into service with another 4 set to be inducted before the end of 2018 while 12 hitherto grounded aircraft had been reactivated.

    The CAS then pledged that NAF personnel, under his leadership, would re-double efforts to ensure the security of Nigerians and uphold the present democratic ideals for the progress and prosperity of our fatherland. Air Marshal Abubakar equally thanked the Executive Governor of Bauchi State for allocating the huge parcel of land the NAF Base is today located. Additionally, he thanked members of the National Assembly, particularly the Senate and House Committees on Air Force for their support to the Service.

    In his remarks at the occasion, the Honourable Minister of Defence (HMOD), Mansur Dan Ali, said that the task of nation building and security could only be achieved if the safety of the citizens and territorial integrity of a nation are guaranteed. Hence, the Federal Government, through the Ministry of Defence, would continue to invest in the provision of infrastructure for members of the AFN.

    He noted that the construction of the NAF Base and the hospital took the leadership of the NAF less than one year to accomplish. He therefore appreciated the President for empowering the NAF to achieve the feat and also congratulated the CAS for his purposeful leadership.

    The HMOD added that the state-of-the-art facilities in the hospital was a testimony of the Federal Government’s commitment to provide the best possible medical care to members of the AFN as a whole. He also commended the NAF for greatly contributing to the maintenance of security and the defence of democracy.

    While addressing the audience, President Buhari disclosed that the hospital is part of the growing commitment to enhance the welfare of troops in the theatre of operations. The President further stated that the counter insurgency efforts would be enhanced by the location of this medical facility because of its proximity to the theatres of operation. “The strategic goal is that more lives will be saved from operational injuries”, he explained.

    President Buhari also indicated that the new NAF hospital would reinforce the national trauma medical support for critical emergencies such as natural or man-made disasters. He then thanked and commended the NAF for initiating and completing this facility while urging it to ensure sustainability of maintenance and quality delivery of service to members of the AFN and the civil populace.

    The President also commended the NAF for reviewing its order of battle in response to current and emerging threats facing the country. He then noted that the NAF remained a key component of the Armed Forces in its constitutional role of providing aid to civil authorities across the country. After his address, the President undertook a tour of the hospital alongside other guests.

    The newly commissioned NAF Reference Hospital is a 60-bed hospital that consists of an Accident and Emergency Unit, Intensive Care Unit, Twin Theatres, Radio Diagnostic Unit as well as Renal Dialysis, Ophthalmic, Dental, Physiotherapy, Maternal and new born units in addition to a mortuary.

    It is also equipped with modern diagnostic and Life Support equipment intended to provide medical care to critically ill patients such as those wounded in combat.

    It is noteworthy that in the past 2 and half years, the NAF has embarked on a deliberate upgrade of its medical facilities through enhancement of existing infrastructure, provision of modern equipment, training of existing staff and recruitment of appropriate professionals to bridge the manpower deficiency in its healthcare facilities. All the 31 medical facilities of the NAF have benefited from this upgrade while the NAF Medical Centre in Port Harcourt was also recently reconstructed and upgraded to a reference hospital status.

  • [Video] NAF MI-35M helicopter destroys Boko Haram vehicles in lake chad region

    The Nigerian Air Force (NAF) Intelligence, Surveillance and Reconnaissance (ISR) aircraft successfully destroyed some Boko Haram Terrorists (BHT) vehicles at a location, in the night of 13 April 2018 about 12km East of AREGE, in the Lake Chad Region.

    Earlier on, the ISR aircraft had discovered BHT activities, with some vehicles mounted with guns, moving within the location.

     

    Accordingly, the Air Task Force (ATF) of Operation LAFIYA DOLE, detailed NAF Mi-35M Helicopter gunships to conduct Air Interdiction strikes to take out the targets.

    Overhead the location, the attack platform acquired, interdicted and neutralised the targets with rockets and cannons.

    The subsequent Battle Damage Assessment (BDA) revealed that at the end of the attack, a BHT gun truck, with its entire occupants, was completely destroyed and engulfed in fire. Another BHT vehicle was damaged and immobilised as a result of the attack while several BHTs were killed in the process.

     

  • NAF decorates 14 newly-graduated pilots in Abuja

    The Nigerian Air Force (NAF) on Monday in Abuja decorated 14 of its newly-graduated pilots with their “Wings” after completion of their flight training in Nigeria and South Africa.

    The 14 pilots being decorated on completion of their training, 12 were from Nigerian Air Force, while two were from Liberia.

    The officers are : Flying officers A. Abba, T.Tamen, C.Gadzama, E.Agwu, M.Adamu, H.Ajagbe and A.Man-Ugwueje,

    Others are : O. Obi, Flight. Lt. V. Sirleaf, Flight Lt. J.Dwanah,O.Akadiri, Flying Officer P.Piyo, Flying officer D.Otuokon and Flying officer I. Obi.

    The Chief of Air Staff, Air Marshal Sadique Abubakar, while decorating the officers with their pilot’s wings, urged them not to be complacent in their duties.

    He advised the young pilots to be prepared for the task ahead as they fit into the operational flying environment.

    “You must not become complacent, knowing that flying operations require discipline, dedication and a lot of hard work, indeed, your journey to fruitful flying arrears is just beginning.

    “You must, therefore, be mentally prepared for mentoring by your captains and sector colleagues in the field.

    He also urged the officers not to forget the three ‘Ds’ to success, which are Drive, Discipline and Desire in the quest for daily improvement.

    “Remember that you are being inducted into flying operations at a key movement in our nation’s history.

    “Consequently, you would do well to always remember that the hopes of millions are resting on your broad shoulders.

    “Learn the rudiments of your craft well and be guided by a purpose higher than yourselves,” he said.

    Abubakar further urged the officers to conduct themselves as professionals, when they are deployed to their operational units.

    “Treat innocent citizens with respect and dignity, but be very decisive in dealing with those that are out to undermine the security of our people and our nation,” Abubakar said.

    He expressed gratitude to President Muhammadu Buhari for his unflinching support to the Nigerian Air Force.

    ” Let me reassure all Nigerians that the Nigerian Air Force remains fully committed to the successful execution of its constitutional roles.

    “It will continue to meet its statutory responsibilities of defending the territorial integrity of the nation, whether singularly, or in unison with the surface forces and other security agencies,” he said.

    He said that four NAF students were currently undergoing training with the United States Air Force.

    Abubakar said that one of those undergoing training was the first female potential fighter pilot in the Nigerian Air Force.

    The Minister of Defence, Mansur Dan-Ali, who was represented by the permanent Secretary, Ministry of Defence, Mrs Nuratu Batagarawa, congratulated the pilots for their new wings.

    He said that the pilots had every reason to be happy, noting that their new wings marked another chapter in their lives and that of their Liberian colleagues.

    Dan-Ali urged the new pilots to remain focused in the “journey of the glorious future ahead.”

  • JUST IN: Special Forces save Uni Maid from suicide bombers

    The Nigerian Air Force (NAF) says its Special Forces, in conjunction with some Nigerian Army troops, successfully foiled a suicide bombing attack by Boko Haram Terrorists at the University of Maiduguri, Borno on Sunday night.

    AVM Olatokunbo Adesanya, NAF’s Director of Public Relations and Information, confirmed this in a statement on Monday in Abuja.

    “The BHT suicide bombers tried to gain access into the University but were quickly detected by the NAF Special Forces.

    “Meanwhile, the vest on one of the suicide bombers detonated before they could gain access into the hostel, leading to a commotion.

    “However, there was no reported fatality except for the suicide bomber, whose counterparts immediately fled, when the NAF Special Forces and the NA troops opened fire on them.

    “The NAF Agusta Light Utility Helicopter (LUH) then went in pursuit of the fleeing BHTs, following which an additional suicide bomber was identified and neutralized,” he said.

    Adesanya said the NAF Agusta LUH was still searching for the other fleeing terrorists at the time of filing this report.

    “Members of the populace, especially around the University premises are, therefore, requested to be very vigilant,” the NAF spokesman said.