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Tag: air Force

  • BNSG Donates N20 million to FAAN Towards Completion of Aviation Termination at Air Force Base

    By Isaac Kertyo, Makurdi

    Benue State Government has committed the sum of Twenty Million Naira to the Federal Airport Authority of Nigeria, FAAN, as part of its contribution to assist the agency complete the ongoing Aviation Termination Project at the Air Force Base, Makurdi.

    Benue State Governor, Samuel Ortom gave this indication while inspecting ongoing work on terminal, which is one of the requirements for people to commence civil flights.

    The Governor explained that the desire to provide air transportation services to the people which will open the state for several opportunities informed the basis of his administration to assist FAAN to enable it complete the project on time.

    Continuing Ortom further explained that” this is not Benue sponsored project but Federal Government and Benue State Government are supposed to complement each other, that’s what we are doing here because we want to provide air transportation services to our people.

    We thought coming in to assist the Federal Ministry of Aviation to provide enough conducive working environment for the civil services in the NAF Base is a welcome development”.

    The Governor who expressed satisfaction over the quality of work done, contended that when completed Government would acquire the required fire fighting equipment to ensure commercial flights commence operation.

  • Air Force Kill Two Notorious Bandit Leaders, Several Others In Zamfara

    Air Force Kill Two Notorious Bandit Leaders, Several Others In Zamfara

    The Nigerian Air Force has killed two notorious bandit leaders, Alhaji Auta, and Kachalla Ruga following an air raid of a forest in Zamfara State.

    Sources revealed that the notorious bandit leaders were killed after a NAF aircraft, under Operation Hadarin Daji, acted on credible intelligence, and bombarded their enclaves at Gusami Forest and Tsamre Village in Birnin Magaji local government area of the state last Friday night.

    According to the sources, multiple airstrikes by the NAF jet, which were carried out in the early hours of Saturday have also led to the death of several other bandits.

    Another source told Channels TV that some bandits were also killed by the military jet when they went to retrieve the body of the bandits’ leader Alhaji Auta from the scene of bombardment.

    Residents believe that if this level of action is sustained and other local political actors key into working for peace, Zamfara State and the entire northwest region will be restored to the “peaceful region” it once used to be.

  • NAF To Investigate Report Its Strikes Killed Soldiers In Borno

    NAF To Investigate Report Its Strikes Killed Soldiers In Borno

    The Nigerian air force on Monday said it was investigating reports that its airstrikes accidentally killed ground troops in Mainok, Borno State.

    A video of a soldier describing the attack had been circulating on social media.

    “The NAF wishes to state that visuals and reports being circulated are currently being investigated and the general public will be duly updated on the alleged incident,” a statement on the Air Force’s verified Twitter page said.

    The air force has been involved in a couple of tragedies this year.

    An air force jet supporting ground troops fighting Boko Haram terrorists went missing in north-east Borno in March.

    In February, seven officials died after a military plane crashed in Abuja, the nation’s capital.

    Friendly Fire
    The air force bomber “accidentally” hit the wrong coordinates while targeting Boko Haram insurgents who had attacked the troops on Sunday, military sources said, as reported by online newspaper TheCable.

    According to the sources, the insurgents had attacked a military base in Mainok and reportedly overpowered the troops, who then called for reinforcement.

    But the reinforcement truck was shelled by the airstrike.

    Airforce killed our ground soldiers thinking they were Boko Haram.

    This is usually the outcome of recruiting or taking soldiers and officers by godfatherism… Killing own troops… pic.twitter.com/I9uMSiHnU0

    — Shehu Zubairu (@ShehuZubair) April 26, 2021

    The truck which was sent for reinforcement was targeted and shelled by the air strike following a flawed intelligence, sources said.

    One of the soldiers in the affected area told TheCable:

    “They (Boko Haram) came with heavy machines, about four MRAPS (mine-resistant ambush protected) vehicles and they overpowered the ground troops,” a soldier in the affected area told TheCable

    “Troops sent signals for air support and when they came, it missed the main coordinates; where the air force shelled their bomb was on the location of troops instead of that of Boko Haram.

    “The aircraft had to turn back. They realised that they mistargeted (and) most of the soldiers started running inside the bush.”

  • Insecurity: Nigeria Air Force Loses Personnel To Bandits In Kaduna

    Insecurity: Nigeria Air Force Loses Personnel To Bandits In Kaduna

    The Nigerian Air Force has lost some of its personnel to armed bandits in Kaduna State.

    This was confirmed in a statement issued on Saturday by the spokesman of the Air Force, Ibikunle Daramola.

    He said over 100 armed bandits laid an ambush which led to the unfortunate killing, adding that some military personnel sustained various degrees of injuries.

    “Troops of the 271 Nigerian Air Force (NAF) Detachment today, 13 February 2021, foiled an ambush set up by a group of over 100 armed bandits at Ungwan Laya near Birnin Gwari in Kaduna State,” the statement partly read.

    “The gallant troops were able to fight their way through the ambush killing dozens of bandits in the process.

    “Unfortunately, some NAF personnel paid the supreme price during the operation, while a few others sustained varying degrees of injuries. The injured personnel are currently receiving treatment at the NAF Hospital in Kaduna.”

    Meanwhile, the Chief of the Air Staff, Air Vice Marshal Oladayo Amao, on behalf all officers, airmen, airwomen and civilian staff of the NAF, has commiserated with the families of the fallen heroes, praying for the repose of their souls.

    Amao who visited the injured personnel in the hospital on Saturday evening asked all NAF personnel to remain resolute and continue to collaborate with other security agencies, to rid the northwest of all criminal elements.

  • Air Force Destroys New Boko Haram Settlement In Borno

    Air Force Destroys New Boko Haram Settlement In Borno

    The Air Task Force of the Operation Lafiya Dole has destroyed a new Boko Haram settlement in Borno State.

    According to a statement issued on Saturday by the Coordinator Defence Media Operations, Defence Headquarters, Major-General, John Enenche, the latest feat was achieved on January 1 at Mana Waji of the state.

    “Air interdiction missions being conducted by the Air Task Force of Operation Lafiya Dole have continued to deal decisive blows on terrorist elements operating in the North East Zone of the Country with the elimination of Boko Haram Terrorists (BHTs) and destruction of their structures and logistics store,” the statement read in part.

    “The airstrikes, which were executed employing a force package of Nigerian Air Force (NAF) fighter jets and helicopter gunships, were carried out after series of aerial surveillance missions revealed that the new settlement was being used to store their weapons and logistics items and as well as plan and stage attacks. On sighting the NAF aircraft, the insurgents were seen fleeing the location.

    “Consequently, in a preemptive move, the NAF attack aircraft engaged the new location in successive passes, leading to the destruction of some of the structures and logistics stores. Several insurgents were also neutralized in the process”.

  • Air Force Neutralises Terrorists, Destroys More Hideouts In Borno

    Air Force Neutralises Terrorists, Destroys More Hideouts In Borno

    The Air Task Force (ATF) of Operation Lafiya Dole has neutralized several Boko Haram Terrorists’ and destroyed their hideouts at Maima and Tusuye, settlements near Warshale and Tongule along the Dikwa-Rann axis of Borno State.

    ISWAP Terrorists Surrender To Nigerian Troops Of Operation Lafiya Dole | Naija News

    According to a statement by Major General Coordinator Defence Media Operations Defence Headquarters, John Enenche, the operation was carried out on October 1 Under the subsidiary, Operation Hail Storm 2.

    General Enenche explained that the feat was achieved sequel to credible Human Intelligence reports as well as series of aerial surveillance missions, which indicated that the locations were being used as rendezvous points by the BHTs.

    “The ATF dispatched an appropriate force package of Nigerian Air Force (NAF) fighter jets and helicopter gunships to engage the two locations. The attack aircraft scored devastating hits in the target areas, destroying some structures and neutralizing several of the terrorists”.

  • Banditry: Sokoto State Govt pledges to sustain cooperation with Air Force

    Banditry: Sokoto State Govt pledges to sustain cooperation with Air Force

    As part of its concerted efforts to combat armed bandits in Sokoto State, that state government has pledged to sustain the cordial relationship and cooperation with the Nigerian Air Force to continue to flush out bandits in the state.

    The state Commissioner for Health, Dr Muhammad Ali made this pledge while flagging off NAF three days free medical outreach to victims of banditry in Sabon Birni Local Government Area of the state.

    The commissioner said the outreach was the second edition he would witness as Commissioner for Health in the state, where the NAF would bring its expertise and support to its various host communities.

    According to him, “There is no better time than now to provide the medical support, considering the recent incidents that Sabon Birni LGA has witnessed. I believe that the medical outreach will go a long way in alleviating the sufferings of the people of the community.”

    Dr Ali called on the people to take advantage of the free services being provided to meet their various healthcare needs.

    Director of Public Relations and Information, Nigerian Air Force, Air Commodore Ibikunle Daranola in a statement said the free medical outreach was part of its efforts to mitigate the hardships currently being experienced by Internally Displaced Persons, IDPs, in Sabon Birni community due to the activities of armed bandits.

    The medical outreach, he explained, was an initiative of the Chief of the Air Staff, Air Marshal Sadique Abubakar, which is intended to enhance good civil-military relations between the NAF and the local community for improved information sharing.

    “During the three days of the outreach, the NAF Medical team will undertake health education talks; free consultations and dispensing of medications; de-worming and immunization of children; distribution of insecticide-treated mosquito nets as well as visual acuity checks and provision of prescription eye glasses. Aside the healthcare services, some palliatives including food items, soaps, blankets and footwear were also distributed to assuage the sufferings of the IDPs,” the statement said.

    The Director of Public Health and Humanitarian Services, NAF, and leader of the medical team, Group Captain Ali Tanko said the outreach was the initiative of the air chief, who was moved by the plight of the displaced persons in the Local Government and promptly directed the Team to take swift action to provide them succour.

    The District Head of Sabon Birni, Alhaji Isa Muhammadu Bawa expressed profound appreciation to the NAF for the humanitarian gesture, describing the gesture as timely as it would further assuage the hardships of the people.

  • Grumbling in army over huge pay disparity with navy, air Force

    Grumbling in army over huge pay disparity with navy, air Force

    Indications have emerged of grumblings within the lower cadre rank or non commissioned officer (NCO) cadre of the Nigerian Army over huge disparities in the payment of salaries of soldiers as compared with salaries of Naval Ratings and Airmen.
    For instance, following the commencement of the payment of the new minimum wage in January 2020, a Private Soldier was paid the sum of N50, 000 as salary, with only N2,000 increment from the previous N48,000 salary. His colleagues in the Nigerian Navy and Nigerian Air Force received the sum of N74,000 each, receiving an increment of N23,000. Consequently, soldiers have appealed to the federal and military authorities to look into the huge disparities and remedy the situation as the confusion is currently unsettling many of them.

    A passionate letter in this regard written by a concerned soldier under condition of anonymity reads, “Military personnel of the Nigerian Army. We are tapping into every source available to make our voice heard. “After the minimum wage was announced by the federal government of Nigeria, we expected an upgrade in the welfare of military personnel in terms of increase in salary. “But only for us to receive January salary with only #2,000 added to our salary (Army), while our brothers in Navy and Air Force had almost #23,000 added to theirs. “A Private in the Army was paid #50,000 from #48,000 while his rank equivalent in the Navy and Air Force were paid #74,000. “How this increment was calculated is unknown to us, we don’t have access to our payslips. We aren’t paid any allowance at all. “We have endured this for very long time now. Most of these bandits, robbers, kidnappers you are seeing are mostly military personnel that have left the job out of anger and frustration from corruption and wicked Generals. “Please I don’t know how you can help us, let the whole nation know what we are passing through. There is grumbling and confusion silently going in the Army now. “But fear of being charged or locked up for mutiny is what is making some to accept their fate.” However, a senior officer, when contacted by Vanguard, disclosed that the Army authorities were aware of the anomaly but that the issue is being addressed and would be resolved soon. Vanguard got the impression that the shortcomings may have arisen from challenges between the Office of the Accountant General of the federation, and the ministry of finance.