The Chief of Air Staff, Air Marshal Hasan Abubakar, said the Nigerian Air Force, NAF, has continued to embark on a wide range of intensive air operations across operational theatres in the country with varying degrees of success.
Abubakar made this statement in Abuja while briefing members of the House of Representatives Committee on Air Force, who paid an oversight visit to the NAF Headquarters.
According to him, the nation’s current security environment has remained fluid, dynamic and unpredictable.
He said while terrorists’ activities in the northeast and northwest had declined, there has been an escalation in the rate and frequency of kidnapping and hostage-taking by the same criminals in the region.
He said the recent coordinated spate of kidnappings of over 200 schoolchildren in Kaduna, 15 in Sokoto and several others in Borno were clear pointers.
He explained that the threats posed by secessionists and oil thieves in the southeast and south-south regions, though on the decline, had also been a source of concern.
“Despite these challenges, NAF has continued to embark on a wide range of intensive air operations. These include intelligence surveillance, reconnaissance, air interdiction and armed reconnaissance across operational theatres in the country, with varying degrees of success.
“These successes were made possible by the unwavering support of President Bola Tinubu, as evident in the recent acquisition and induction of various platforms, with the most recent being the induction of 2 x T-129 ATAK helicopters,” he said.