The Nigerian Air Force (NAF) is set to deploy additional air assets and NAF Regiment and Special Forces personnel to troubled areas in the North west to beef up security arrangement.
The North west has been facing issues of armed banditry, kidnapping, cattle rustling for more than four years.
While playing host to governor of Katsina state, Aminu Masari, at the NAF headquarters, Abuja, the Chief of the Air Staff (CAS), Air Marshal Sadque Abubarkar, said the NAF, in conjunction with sister services and other security agencies, would continue to work “tirelessly” to secure territorial integrity of the country, by dealing “ruthlessly with all criminal elements that seek to undermine the security of Nigeria and Nigerians.”
The air chief appreciated the peace initiatives of the Kastina state government to deal with the issue of banditry in the state, adding that NAF’s would continue to work closely with the governments of the affected states to deal with the emerging security challenges in the area.
He noted that the NAF has emplaced infrastructure at Daura in Katsina state and Gusau in Zamfara state to cater for the additional personnel and air assets that would be deployed.
Air Marshall Abubakar stated that a helipad had been constructed at Birnin Magaji in Zamfara state, while the refueling facilities in Gusau had been expanded to further facilitate the effective and efficient conduct of air operations.
He urged the armed bandits, some of whom he noted now carry high calibre weapons, to have a change of heart and surrender to security forces, as they would ” face the devastation of the firepower that the NAF would bring to bear on them.”
The CAS noted that the ability of the service to carry out its constitutional roles has continued to be facilitated by the provision of adequate resources by the federal government, thus obviating the need to depend on any state government for logistics support.
He added that the NAF recently acquired two new Agusta 109 Power Helicopters and was also expecting an additional helicopter. He highlighted that all three would be inducted into the NAF in the coming days, adding that would increase the operational capability of the NAF and further help in the prosecution of the ongoing anti-banditry operations in the area.
He added that the NAF has always been a part of the internal security arrangements in Katsina state and would not relent in its efforts to ensure that relative peace is restored to Kastina state and other troubled parts of the country.
