NAF Winds Down
NAF Winds Down Operation Rattlesnake
The Chief of the Air Staff (CAS), Air Marshal Sadique Abubakar,
has commended the Air Task Force (ATF) Operation LAFIYA DOLE for
the successes recorded during the just concluded Operation RATTLE
SNAKE. The Operation, which was launched on 10 December 2019
against terrorists’ elements in the Northeast of the Country,
targeted selected locations within the Northeast in order to
further degrade the remnants of the terrorists as well as deny them
safe havens and freedom of action. The CAS was represented
yesterday, 17 December 2019, at the dinner to mark the end of the
Operation by the Director of Operations, Headquarters Nigerian Air
Force (HQ NAF), Air Vice Marshal Idi Lubo. The CAS stated that the
7-day intensive operation had been necessary to build on the gains
of previous air interdiction operations by the ATF. According to
him, “From what I have seen, we have achieved the objectives
outlined before the commencement of the operation”, he said.
While appreciating the efforts of participating aircrew and
troops for the successes achieved so far, Air Marshal Abubakar
challenged them not to relent, noting that the war had not ended.
He stated that the ATF would continue to conduct its usual
operations throughout the Theatre to ensure that there is no
resurgence of terrorists activities. He reminded them to maintain
highest levels of vigilance and combat readiness to protect the
nation’s critical assets within their area of responsibility as
well as guarantee the security of the citizens during the festive
season. The CAS also used the opportunity to express the profound
appreciation of the NAF to the President, Commander-in-Chief of the
Armed Forces of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, President
Muhammadu Buhari, for the consistent support and provision of
required resources to the Service to enable it perform assigned
duties effectively and efficiently.
Earlier in his welcome address, the ATF Commander, Air Commodore
Precious Amadi, noted that the operation was necessary to forestall
the planned attacks by the terrorists on friendly locations as well
as prevent the disruption of relative peace in the area, especially
during the festive season. He said the essence of the dinner was to
ease-off the pressures from the hectic operation while also serving
as a morale booster to energize the troops for continued enhanced
performance. He thanked the CAS for his physical presence in
Maiduguri virtually throughout the period of the operation as well
as for his consistent guidance and support to the troops of the
ATF.
It would be recalled that prior to Operation RATTLE SNAKE, there
were other air interdiction operations including Operations GREEN
SWEEP 1, 2 and 3, which were conducted to neutralize terrorists
targets around the Lake Chad and Sambisa Forest general areas. The
conduct of these operations have continued to shape the battle
space whilst creating the enabling environment for ground troops to
operate more effectively to ensure that the insurgents are unable
to regroup to carry-out their heinous activities.
NAF Destroys Terrorists Camp at Ngoske
The sustained air strikes being conducted by the Air Task Force
(ATF) of Operation LAFIYA DOLE under the auspices of Operation
RATTLE SNAKE have yielded further results with the destruction of
another Boko Haram Terrorists (BHTs) Camp at Ngoske in the Sambisa
Forest area of Borno State.
The operation was executed on 16 December 2019 after a Nigerian
Air Force (NAF) Intelligence, Surveillance and Reconnaissance (ISR)
aircraft had, over a series of missions, observed a scaling up of
terrorists’ activities in some compounds within the settlement.
Accordingly, the ATF detailed an enhanced force package of
attack aircraft to engage the location. Overhead the target area, a
significant number of terrorists were observed. The munitions from
the attack aircraft hit the designated location, wiping out a part
of the cluster of buildings in the area and neutralizing several of
the BHT fighters.
The NAF, operating in concert with surface forces, will sustain
its efforts to completely destroy all remnants of the terrorists in
the Northeast.
IBIKUNLE DARAMOLA
Air Commodore
Director of Public Relations and Information
Nigerian Air Force