NAF Female Pilots Unrelenting, Breaking Gender Barriers in Counter-insurgency Missions
Female fighter pilots of the Nigeria Airforce (NAF), have continued in their success lines as the latest is the destruction of a stronghold of the Boko Haram in the North East.
The destruction of the stronghold in collaboration with the ground troops has put the insurgents in disarray and serious panic in their camps, said an intelligence officer who spoke with PRNigeria on condition of anonymity.
As the world marks the International Women’s Day (IWD) 2020, the women of war (WoW) in the Nigerian Air Force are breaking bounds and distinguishing themselves in a field often seen as the exclusive preserve of their male counterparts.
PRNigeria has identified six outstanding female pilots currently in the Nigeria airforce. Some of them are actively involved in degrading the enclaves of terrorists and bandits, especially in North-Eastern Nigeria. While flying Officer Genevieve Nwaogwugwu, Flight Lieutenant Chika Ani, and Flying Officer Olubunmi Ijelu are Intelligence, Surveillance and Reconnaissance (ISR) pilots, Flying Officer Kafayat Sanni and Flying Officer Tolulope Arotile are fighter pilots currently serving to restore peace in the region ravaged by insurgency. Flight Lieutenant Blessing Liman is a respected Pilot in the Presidential Air Wing.
The intelligence source with a Joint military taskforce said, “We observe with interest the recent series of successful attacks carried out by the Air Task Force (ATF) of Operation LAFIYA DOLE, where the female pilots play major roles in NAF’s Air Interdiction Operation, codenamed DECISIVE EDGE.
“They accomplish sustained airstrikes sequel to Intelligence, Surveillance and Reconnaissance (ISR) missions with accurate hits on the target areas. The Women of War, as they called them, in efficient and effective coordinations with their male counterparts, have continued to provide intelligence, neutralize Boko Haram Fighters, bomb ISWAP fuel storage/logistics facilities, destroy terrorists’ gun trucks and take out a lot of training camps of the insurgents.
“In fact, in recent operations, they destroyed terrorists’ hideouts that are inaccessible to ground forces due to difficult and sometimes heavily mined terrains. Battle Damage Assessments have always confirmed their accurate hits on targets.”
To mark this International Woman Day (IWD) with the theme, “I am Generation Equality: Realizing Women’s Rights,” the NAF released a video footage to specially celebrate its women of war for their contributions and sacrifices in ensuring a secure Nation while highlighting their unique features and roles.
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The NAF Director of Public Relations and Information (DOPRI), Air Commodore Ibikunle Daramola, in a statement saluted all women for their unique resilience, industry, productivity and commitment to humanity.
The well trained and adequately equipped Women-of-War are proving their combat bravery and professional gallantry in complementing the efforts of troops in counter-insurgency campaigns and other crisis zones in the country.
PRNigeria
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VIDEO: How NAF Aircraft Destroyed ISWAP Terrorists, Facilities in Gubio
Video:
In continuation of Operation DECISIVE EDGE, the Air Task Force (ATF) of Operation LAFIYA DOLE has successfully knocked out some logistics facilities and other structures belonging to elements of the Islamic State of West Africa Province (ISWAP) at Bukar Meram on the fringes of the Lake Chad in Borno State.
Similarly, aircraft dispatched by the ATF to provide close air support for ground troops at Gubio in the Northwestern part of Borno State also destroyed one gun truck and eliminated some ISWAP fighters at the location.
The attack at Bukar Meram was executed on 9 March 2020 on the heels of Intelligence reports indicating that the terrorists had resumed using the settlement to store their logistics supplies.
Accordingly, the ATF dispatched its fighter jets to attack the location, with their munitions hitting and destroying the identified structures.
In a similar vein, on 11 March 2020, fighter jets and a helicopter gunship scrambled by the ATF to provide close air support to ground troops at Gubio neutralized an ISWAP gun truck and some of their fighters as they attempted to beat a retreat after they were roundly defeated by a combination of air and ground fire.
The Nigerian Air Force, in furtherance of the objective of restoring peace and security in the Northeast and operating in concert with surface forces, will continue to carry out air interdiction missions against the enemies of our Nation.
IBIKUNLE DARAMOLA
Air Commodore
Director of Public Relations and Information
Nigerian Air Force
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