Air Force vows to flush out militants in Lagos, southwest

The Nigerian Air Force (NAF) says it has recruited 7,000 personnel in three years and vowed to flush out regrouping militants in Lagos.

Sadique Abubakar, the Chief of Air Staff (CAS), told journalists at the inauguration of some buildings for its personnel at 041 Communications Depot, Shasha in Lagos, the force was leaving the stone unturned in fighting the militants in Lagos.

“We have been in Lagos, Taraba and other states in the country. Very soon, something is going to be worked out which will involve not only the Air Force but all military formations.

“Our commanders are giving us all the inputs. Just like we flushed them before, we are going to continue to flush them with the support of other security agencies.”

The CAS said the force had recruited 7,000 personnel in the last three years, adding that new helicopters and aircraft were also acquired.

“Professionalism is not just about equipment and training but most importantly, about the human beings because human being is the most important resource.

“The whole essence is to ensure that Nigeria and Nigerians are secure and be able to go about their businesses without fear.”

The CAS said that the NAF embarked on massive construction of new accommodation as well as re-modelling of old ones to address the infrastructural deficit of the past.

“It is quite important to ensure that the living condition of our tireless and hard working personnel is given high premium.

“Human beings, being the most important resource in organisations, ought to have their welfare needs addressed in order for them to be effective in discharging their assigned roles and responsibilities.”

He said that the NAF base, Shasha, being one of the bases in the Lagos area, was critical to the successful conduct of NAF operations.

“It is, therefore, appropriate that such a base receives commensurate provision of facilities for the general well-being of personnel and their families. The project being inaugurated is dedicated to one of our pilots who paid the supreme price while on a national assignment.

“The project is therefore, named after the senior officer who passed on while on rescue mission on an Alpha-Jet aircraft.

“It is hoped that this would create the enabling environment and serve as motivation for personnel to discharge their duties effectively and efficiently.

A number of platforms in our inventory are also undergoing reactivation and will soon be injected back to service to boost our counter-terrorism and counter-insurgency operations.

“You could remember that the NAF was also instrumental in riding the creeks within the southwest region off criminal elements.

“As much as capacity is being built within the NAF, we must continue to develop strategies to anticipate and curb other emerging security imperatives across the country,” he said.

The newly inaugurated accommodation is designed to house a total of 120 airmen and airwomen. The accommodation is built to take care of the personnel that had just been recruited, to enhance the operational effectiveness of the NAF.