Insecurity: We’re prepared to protect Nigeria’s sovereignty —Air Chief Sadique
Godwin Isenyo, Kaduna
The Chief of Air Staff, Air Marshall Sadique Abubakar has said that the officers and men of the Nigerian Air Force won’t allow the territorial integrity of Nigeria to be undermined by insurgency and banditry.
The CAS acknowledged the challenges posed by the current insurgency and banditry but noted that the NAF was prepared to protect the sovereignty of the country.
He said the Air component of the nation’s Armed Forces was determined more ever than before to confront and surmount insurgency and banditry ravaging the country.
This was just as the Minister of Defence, Major General Bashir Magashi (retd.), lauded the efforts of the President, Major General Muhammadu Buhari(retd.), for prioritizing national security since assumption of office in 2015.
The CAS stated these at the Induction Ceremony of Mi-171E Combat Helicopter and Commissioning of Reactivated L-39ZA Aircraft, at the Air Force Base, Kaduna on Thursday.
He noted that for the past decade, the country has endured its share of horrific national security challenges, that have manifested in the form of terrorism and insurgency, and more recently armed banditry.
According to him, the officers and men are ever determined to ensure that “the territorial integrity and sovereignty of our dear nation is not undermined.”
“The fight against insurgency, terrorism and banditry could not have been possible without the effective employment of modern combat platforms and equipment invested by this government to detect, neutralise and deter these enemies of our nation and deny them the freedom they once had to attack communities at will.
“Air Power deployed using these platforms in concert with operations of sister Services and other security agencies, was instrumental in the uprooting of the Boko Haram terrorists from their hitherto Caliphate headquarters in Gwoza as well as the recovery of other areas previously occupied by the terrorists and the IED making workshops scattered all over Borno State, as well as Logistic and Training camps, have been neutralised.
“Through the tremendous support of the Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, President Muhammadu Buhari, the Nigerian Air Force has acquired another brand new Mi-171E helicopter, and also successfully reactivated an additional L-39ZA ground attack/trainer aircraft,” he stated.
The Minister of Defence noted that the President has over the years, re-equipped the armed forces to enhance their operational effectiveness.
“The acquisition and induction of 23 new platforms since 2015, among other giant strides, is a testament to Mr President’s resolve towards providing necessary equipment required to combat contemporary security challenges facing the nation,” he said.
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