Air Marshal Abubakar NAF
Air Marshal Abubakar NAF Boss
War on Banditry: Air Chief on Tour of Gusau,
Katsina
The Chief of the Air Staff (CAS), Air Marshal Sadique Abubakar, has
reiterated the commitment of the Nigerian Air Force (NAF) to flush
out armed bandits and criminals from the North West of the country.
The CAS stated this yesterday, 7 November 2018, while conducting a
one day operational visit to NAF units in Katsina and Zamfara
States. The visit, which was aimed at assessing the progress of
Operation DIRAN MIKIYA, also afforded the CAS the opportunity to
ascertain the state of facilities at NAF Base Gusau as well as
interact with the troops. While in Katsina, the CAS, who was
accompanied by other senior officers from NAF Headquarters, also
paid a courtesy visit to the Katsina State Governor, Honourable
Aminu Bello Masari, at Government House Katsina.
In Katsina, the Air Task Force (ATF) Commander Operation DIRAN
MIKIYA, Air Commodore Ayo Jolasinmi, while briefing the CAS on the
status of the operation, reported that significant successes had
been achieved since the operation began on 31 July 2018, noting
that the ATF had flown about 740 hours in 540 surveillance and
combat sorties, resulting in the decimation of scores of armed
bandit kingpins and their fighters as well as the destruction of
several camps and hideouts with thousands of rustled cattle
recovered. The CAS commended the ATF Comd and his team for their
efforts and urged them to re-strategize in order to more
effectively tackle the evolving nature of the threat within the
area, while working closely with surface forces and other security
agencies.
During the earlier courtesy visit to the Executive Governor of
Katsina State, the CAS expressed profound appreciation to the
Government and good people of the State for the immense support the
NAF had enjoyed since Operation DIRAN MIKIYA began. Air Marshal
Abubakar pledged the whole-hearted commitment of the Service
towards ensuring that the activities of the armed bandits are
brought to a complete stop and normalcy restored to the affected
areas. He informed the Governor that he was in Katsina to assess
the progress of the Operation with a view to re-strategizing for
improved results. In this regard, the CAS intimated the Governor
that the NAF was establishing a Forward Operating Base (FOB), along
with a helicopter landing pad and support facilities, at Birnin
Gwari in Kaduna State. This, he said, would further strengthen
NAF’s ability to deal with the armed bandits, while working in
synergy with other security agencies.
Governor Masari responded by appreciating the CAS for the
unwavering commitment shown by the NAF and the tremendous
contributions made by the Service in dealing with the menace of
armed banditry. He acknowledged the successes recorded since the
commencement of Operation DIRAN MIKIYA, noting that over 250 armed
bandits reportedly fled across the border to Niger Republic as a
result of NAF air strikes in the months of August and September. He
however opined that the recent resurgence of the activities of the
armed bandits required the intensification of operations to
effectively deal with the criminals. He said, on its part, the
Katsina State Government would increase advocacy to limit the
involvement of youths in the border areas while continuing to
facilitate the provision of useful information to security
agencies. The Governor ended by once more appreciating the efforts
of the NAF not just in the Northwest but also in other theatres of
operation across the country.
At Gusau, the CAS was received by the Commander 207 Quick
Response Group (207 QRG), Squadron Leader Sunkanmi Akinbohun, as
well as the Speaker of the Zamfara State House of Assembly, Alhaji
Sanusi Rikiji, other top government functionaries and heads of
security agencies in the State. He was conducted round facilities
within NAF Base Gusau, including fuel storage facilities and some
buildings that had been repaired after their roofs were blown off
by rainstorms earlier in the year. Air Marshal Abubakar
subsequently received a briefing from the Commander 207 QRG and
later addressed the troops encouraging them to remain focused on
their assignment. He also urged them to conduct themselves
professionally and deal ruthlessly with the armed bandits while
ensuring they respect and protect civilians in their places of
deployment. The CAS and other senior officers have since returned
to Abuja.
IBIKUNLE DARAMOLA
Air Commodore
Director of Public Relations and Information
Nigerian Air Force