NAF jet foils plan to ambush ground troops, kills 15 terrorists in Borno

THE Nigerian Air Force said, yesterday, that its Air Component of Operation Lafiya Dole foiled a plan by Boko Haram terrorists to ambush the army’s surface forces harboured at Doron Naira, north of Borno State.


A statement signed by Group Captain Ayodele Famuyiwa, Director, Air Force Public Relations, said: “Earlier today, June 28, 2016 (yesterday), a Nigerian Air Force, NAF, King Air A350i Beechcraft aircraft on Intelligence, Surveillance and Reconnaissance, ISR, mission sighted a group of Boko Haram insurgents in seven Hilux vehicles hiding under trees at a location along the axis of advance ground forces towards Kangarawa, north of Borno State.

“Following this discovery, an Alpha Jet was scrambled to attack the location. The attack was successful as 15 of the insurgents were killed and the whole vehicles knocked out.

“The casualty figure was confirmed by ground forces, who subsequently consolidated on the gains of the air effort to pursue and inflict further casualty on the fleeing wounded members of the terrorist group.

“Troops also confirmed two gun trucks were among vehicles destroyed by the Alpha Jet as two AK-47 rifles, two RPGs and cache of assorted munition were recovered.”

Kano, P-Harcourt bases get new facilities

Meanwhile, NAF, as part of its renewed commitment to enhance operational effectiveness and efficiency, is constructing new facilities and renovating existing ones on its bases across the country.

The latest additions were at Kano and Port Harcourt Bases, where new accommodation and sporting facilities were provided to carter for the general welfare and physical fitness needs of the personnel and their dependents.

Group Captain Famuyiwa said: “New blocks of furnished residential accommodation were commissioned recently in Kano for student pilots, single and married officers, as well as Non-Commissioned Officers (Corporal and below).

“In Port Harcourt, a new fitness centre with modern sporting facilities was also commissioned recently to help the personnel keep fit for duty.’’
While commissioning the Kano projects, AVM Mukhtar Muhammed (retd), who was special guest, applauded the effort by the NAF leadership to enhance the welfare of personnel and their service to the nation.

He noted that the NAF had continued to make giant strides, even in the face of scarce resources, pointing out that the Service deserved commendation for its spirited effort at combating insurgency in the North East and emerging militancy in the South South.

On his part, the Chief of the Air Staff, Air Marshal Sadique Abubakar, stated that the current emphasis on massive infrastructure development in NAF was geared towards promoting professionalism and service delivery.

Speaking during the recent projects commissioning ceremony in Kano, Air Marshal Abubakar disclosed that the current focus to reposition the NAF into a highly professional and disciplined force was hinged on training, equipment and welfare, adding that the NAF under his administration, would not relent on its effort to give the best to the personnel as they were the most important asset.