Air Chief orders more force against terrorists, bandits

The Chief of Air Staff, Air Marshal Hassan Abubakar, on Wednesday, ordered Air Officers Commanding (AOCs), branch chiefs, directors as well as the entire senior leadership cadre of the Nigerian Air Force to redouble their efforts against terrorists and bandits. Abubakar, who stated this at NAF headquarters in Abuja, when he met with them in […]

The Chief of Air Staff, Air Marshal Hassan Abubakar, on Wednesday, ordered Air Officers Commanding (AOCs), branch chiefs, directors as well as the entire senior leadership cadre of the Nigerian Air Force to redouble their efforts against terrorists and bandits.

Abubakar, who stated this at NAF headquarters in Abuja, when he met with them in commemorating his one year in office, also charged the commanders to intensify efforts against other criminals and ensure that the country is completely safe and secure.

The air chief, who was appointed June 19, 2023 by President Bola Tinubu, said, “We must be proactive and intensify our efforts to meet the federal government and Nigerian citizens’ expectations for an expeditious actualisation of a peaceful, safe and secure nation for prosperity to thrive.

“In the past 12 months, to enhance our gains against these threats of terrorism, insurgency, banditry and other criminal activities, we have re-strategized and adopted new air power measures in line with my command philosophy.”

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Abubakar said the Russian-Ukraine war constrained NAF’s sourcing of aircraft spares and maintenance of the Mi-series helicopters that are crucial in counter-terrorism and counter-insurgency operations.

He said, “The Russian-Ukraine war created a significant economic disruption that negatively affected world food prices and led to higher costs of living, especially in vulnerable economies such as Nigeria.

“These dire economic situations fuel insecurity. And for the Nigerian Air Force, the Russia-Ukraine War has constrained our sourcing of aircraft spares and maintenance of the Mi-series helicopters that are crucial in our counter-terrorism or counter-insurgency operations.”