No time to relent, Air Chief tells personnel fighting bandits

The Chief of the Air Staff (CAS), Air Marshal Sadique Abubakar, has again charged personnel fighting bandits in the North-west not to relent, but intensify operations to ensure total defeat of the bandits.

The Air Chief gave the charge Wednesday, during his operational visit to Birnin Gwari in Kaduna state.

He said the NAF’s air offensives against bandits and other criminals in on-going internal security operations in Niger, Kaduna, Zamfara, Katsina and Sokoto states had contributed “greatly” to the achievements of the Nigerian military.  

The CAS commended personnel of the 271 Nigerian Air Force Detachment (271 NAF Det) Birnin Gwari for the recent successes recorded against bandits and other criminal elements in the area.

“I am happy to note that this unit neutralized some bandits yesterday while carrying out its constitutionally assigned task,” he said. “We must continue to fight until our beloved citizens are able to go about their daily activities and live freely. It is our obligation to professionally perform our roles to protect our dear Country from both terrorism and armed banditry.”

He said the 271 NAF Det Birnin Gwari, working in concert with sister Services and other security agencies, would continue to play a crucial role in this regard to arrest the dynamic security challenges within its Area of Responsibility.

Air Marshal Abubakar who also inaugurated the newly constructed internal road network as well as a block of 20 x one bedroom transit accommodation for airmen at the unit, said infrastructure was expected to pave way for the deployment of additional personnel to beef up the manpower disposition of the Unit.

The CAS noted that the current NAF leadership has not only consistently sought to evolve strategies that would enable the Service adequately project air power to effectively and efficiently deal with prevalent security threats, “but has also accorded personnel welfare utmost priority.” He added that was in recognition of the pivotal role that the welfare of the human component of any security architecture plays in ensuring operational efficiency.

Air Marshall Abubakar reiterated the commitment of the Service towards ensuring that accommodation problems are eradicated. He urged the beneficiaries to utilize the new facilities with high sense of responsibility.

Before departing Birnin Gwari, the CAS held a brief closed door meeting with the Commander 271 NAF Det as well as the Air Component Commanders for Operations GAMA AIKI and THUNDER STRIKE.

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