Military Airstrikes Ruin Terrorists’ Hideouts in Kacha Korle

Military Airstrikes Ruin Terrorists’ Hideouts in Kacha Korle

The Air Task Force (ATF) of Operation LAFIYA DOLE has destroyed a Boko Haram Terrorists (BHTs) hideout and neutralised some of their fighters at Kacha Korle in the Sambisa Forest general area of Borno State.

The operation was executed on 10 June 2020, following intelligence reports indicating that the location was being used as a staging area and meeting venue for the terrorists from where they planned and launched attacks against troops’ locations and civilian settlements within the Sector 1 Area of Responsibility, including the Maiduguri-Damaturu Highway.

Accordingly, the Air Task Force dispatched an Intelligence, Surveillance and Reconnaissance (ISR) aircraft and fighter jets to attack the hideout.

Overhead the target area, many BHT fighters were observed in and around some prominent structures. These were engaged in successive passes by the attack aircraft leading to the destruction of some of the structures as well as the neutralization of several of the terrorists.

The Chief of the Air Staff has commended the Air Task Force and urged  them to intensify the air offensive against the terrorists. The Defence Headquarters also salutes the courage and dedication of the Air Task Force working in concert with other security agencies and stakeholders towards the defeat of the criminals in the North East.

JOHN ENENCHE
Major General
Coordinator
Defence Media Operations
Defence Headquarters

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ANTI-BANDITRY: NAF COMMISSIONS ADDITIONAL INFRASTRUCTURE TO CATER FOR PERSONNEL WELFARE NEEDS OF 271 DETACHMENT, BIRNIN GWARI

In furtherance of efforts towards ensuring the well-being of personnel in the forefront of prosecuting the war against banditry in the Northwestern part of Nigeria, the Nigerian Air Force (NAF) today, 11 June 2020, commissioned a new block of 6 x one-bedroom Single Officers’ Quarters and a renovated/remodeled Medical Centre at the 271 NAF Detachment (271 NAF Det), Birnin Gwari, Kaduna State. Speaking during the commissioning ceremony, the Chief of the Air Staff (CAS), Air Marshal Sadique Abubakar, who was represented by the NAF Chief of Logistics, Air Vice Marshal (AVM) Mohammed Yakubu, stated that the NAF, in performance of its constitutional roles, has not only continued to evolve strategies for projecting Air Power more efficiently to effectively deal with prevalent security threats, but also given priority attention to the welfare needs of its personnel, thereby motivating them for enhanced professional performance.

Air Marshal Abubakar noted that the 271 NAF Det, since its establishment in 2018, has continued to play a critical role in dealing with the security challenges bedeviling communities within its area of responsibility, working in concert with sister Services and other security agencies. This, he said, underscored the need for the emplacement of facilities that would ensure that personnel of the Unit are in the right frame of mind to continue to be effective in the performance of their duties. He disclosed that the expansion of facilities in the Unit would also enable the NAF to deploy additional personnel to boost security in the area. He therefore urged the personnel to utilize the facilities with a high sense of responsibility.

Speaking further, the CAS noted that the NAF’s air offensive in ongoing internal security campaigns in Zamfara, Kaduna, Niger and Katsina States, amongst others, had continued to add value to the current efforts at addressing insecurity issues in the North West and North Central Zones of the Country. He however emphasized that a lot more needed to be done to ensure that people in all the affected communities are able to go about their normal lives without fear. He therefore urged the personnel to continue to work assiduously to rid the Country of banditry, terrorism and militancy, whist embracing the highest levels of professionalism and regimentation in their daily conduct. While thanking the Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces, President Muhammadu Buhari, for his support to the Armed Forces of Nigeria (AFN), and the NAF, in particular, towards the achievement of critical Air Power goals, the CAS assured all Nigerians that the NAF was more than ever committed to ensuring a safer and more secured Nigeria.

Earlier in his welcome address, the Air Officer Commanding Special Operations Command (AOC SOC), AVM Charles Ohwo, while appreciating the CAS for his relentless support to the SOC, assured that personnel of the Command and 271 NAF Det would remain committed to the total defeat of insurgency and banditry. He said the high premium placed on personnel welfare and capacity development by the current NAF leadership would undoubtedly lead to improved proficiency in mission accomplishment.

Also present at the commissioning ceremony were the Air Officer Commanding Air Training Command, Director of Services Headquarters NAF as well as other senior NAF officers.

IBIKUNLE DARAMOLA
Air Commodore
Director of Public Relations and Information
Nigerian Air Force
11 June 2020

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NIGERIAN AIR FORCE IMMORTALISES RENOWNED EDUCATIONIST, REV SIS HENRIETTA ALOKHA

The Nigerian Air Force (NAF), today, 11 June 2020, immortalized a renowned educationist, scholar and former Principal of Bethlehem Girls’ College, Late Rev Sister Henrietta Abosiogwe Alokha, who died while rescuing her students after the pipeline explosion at Abule-Ado in Lagos on 15 March 2020. The Chief of the Air Staff (CAS), Air Marshal Sadique Abubakar, who unveiled a plaque in her honour and named the newly constructed 500-capacity Assembly Hall at the Air Force Secondary School (AFSS), NAF Base Shasha, Lagos after her, stated that Rev Sister Alokha was being immortalized for her selfless efforts in the propagation of learning and service to humanity.

Represented by the Air Officer Commanding Logistics Command (AOC LC), Air Vice Marshal (AVM) Lawal Alao, the CAS noted that it was appropriate that a facility such as the Assembly Hall in an institution of learning and character development should be named after someone who had dedicated her life to educating future leaders. According to him, “We remember her for her actions during the Abule-Ado petroleum pipeline explosion which eventually culminated in a fire incident at the Bethlehem Girls’ College. Reverend Sister Henrietta made the ultimate sacrifice on 15 March 2020, while evacuating her students from the fire caused by the explosion at the school. Her bravery on that day paid off as no student of the College was lost to the deadly incident”.

Air Marshal Abubakar remarked that he was hopeful that naming the Assembly Hall after her would not only be symbolic but would also continually keep her memory fresh in the hearts of people. “I am convinced that the story of her heroic act on that fateful day will continue to light a path for younger generations and the ones yet to come on the value of selfless service to humanity. In addition, her sacrifice will also serve as a motivation to officers and airmen/airwomen of the NAF who are presently deployed to various theaters of operation in our country. I pray for the repose of the soul of Rev Sister Henrietta Alokha”, he added.

Earlier in his welcome address, the Commander 041 Communications Depot Shasha, Air Commodore Nkem Aguiyi, noted that there were similarities between Bethlehem Girls’ College and AFSS, Shasha. “They are both institutions growing future generations and should therefore serve as repositories of the intrinsic qualities demonstrated by Sister Alokha. Her name deserves a place in the sands of time as she chose to put humanity before self”, he said. He pointed out that one of key drivers of CAS’ Vision, which is to “promote and inculcate the core values of integrity, excellence and service delivery”, closely aligns with Rev Sister Alokha’s actions.

While expressing her profound appreciation to the NAF for the honour done to late Rev Sister Alokha, the Superior-General of the Congregation of Sisters of the Sacred Heart of Jesus (SSH), the Order to which Sister Alokha belonged, Sister Monica Rowland, said the SSH and indeed the entire Catholic Church was encouraged by the gesture as it would spur others to such selfless service. She expressed hope that Alokha’s death would be a lesson for leaders to be ready to make sacrifices for the led.

Also present at the event were the Chief of Staff and Principal Staff Officers of Logistics Command, Commanders and Commandants of NAF Units and Schools in Lagos area, the NAF Director of Education as well as delegations from the Lagos and Benin Diocese of the Catholic Church of Nigeria and Sisters of the Sacred Heart of Jesus Congregation.

IBIKUNLE DARAMOLA
Air Commodore
Director of Public Relations and Information
Nigerian Air Force
11 June 2020