NAF Currently Involved in Six Major Operations in Nigeria, Says CAS Abubakar

The Chief of Air Staff (CAS), Sadique Abubakar, has revealed that the Nigerian Air Force (NAF) is currently engaged in six major operations within Nigeria.

The Air chief disclosed this on Wednesday during an interactive session with the House of Representatives Committee on Air Force, where he said security could only be achieved in nation where there is proper communication between those in charged with the responsibility of protecting the people and the territory of the country concerned as well as the parliament.

Abubakar stressed that in the last five years, the NAF has done everything humanly possible to protect the lives of Nigerians and the territorial integrity of Nigeria.

According to him, "The NAF is currently engaged in six major operations within Nigeria, which are Operation Lafiya Dole in the North-east; Delta Safe in the Niger Delta area; Hadarin Daji in the North-west part of the country; Safe Haven in Plateau State, Bauchi State and the southern part of Kaduna State; Operation Wild Stroke in Benue State; Thunder Strike on Abuja-Kaduna road, which is an operation that was put in place by the Defence Headquarters to ensure that there is freedom of movement on that road as well as to protect the railway line."

The CAS told the committee that there were a lot of misinformation in the public, but while he didn't elaborate on what misinformation he was referring to, he stressed that through interaction with the committee, they would be availed  a situation report.

Abubakar noted: "We conduct air surveillance over the rail line linking Kaduna and Abuja, and where we sense any danger, we communicate to the members of Operation Thunder Strike, the ground troops, where we also have 50 special force personnel of the NAF that are also fighting on ground together with the Nigerian Army. We are also participating in swift response which has to do with the national border patrol and Operation Gama Aiki in Niger State."

He revealed further that in the last five years or thereabout, the NAF has flown about 65,000 hours to 64,996 hours in order to ensure that the country is able to remain 'fairly secure' and to ensure  that the people are able to go about their businesses without hindrance.

Out of this number of hours, Abubakar explained that NAF had flown about 21,912 hours in the North-east alone.

In terms of other achievements he noted that the Air Force had tried to project air power not only within but also outside Nigeria.

The Air chief added that NAF was in Malawi and Mozambique to deliver relief materials during the flood disaster, and was also in Gambia to support the democratic process under the ECOWAS mandate.