By; PATRICK TITUS, Uyo
The Chief of Air Staff (CAS), Air Marshall Oladayo Amao has said that the Nigerian Air Force (NAF) has succeeded in combating the insurgents, degraded their resources and capabilities through punitive strikes.
Amao, during a 2-day 2022 NAF Operations Seminar on Thursday in Uyo, Akwa Ibom State, noted the security challenges posed by terrorists to the well-being of Nigeria and the populace in recent times.
The Air Force Boss however, assured Nigerians that the fierce action of the armed forces of Nigeria against the terrorists has forced many of them to surrender due to hardship meted out to them.
“We are all aware that our nation is currently faced with several security challenges, which do not only impinge on the stability of our country but also threaten our corporate existence as Nigerians.
“Accordingly, the Armed Forces of Nigeria (AFN) has been at the forefront of addressing these issues, in concert with other security agencies.
“We have had significant gains in curtailing and degrading the resources and capabilities of these miscreants that seek to destabilize our nation.
“The NAF in particular has unleashed the coercive effects of air power on the terrorists through intensive air interdiction of their locations and facilities.
“These punitive strikes have degraded their resources, disrupted their supply lines, and denied them of their freedom of movement.
“Consequently, they have been surrendering in droves to their troops due to the unbearable hardship meted out to them by the combined kinetic efforts of the AFN,” he noted.
Amao said that as a key stakeholder in the security architecture of the country, the NAF will continue to sustain its offensive air operations against the terrorists to bring misery to the criminals.
He explained that the aim of the seminar is basically to seek better ways of improving the efforts of the NAF and also help in re-strategising in the fight against insurgency.
“it is imperative that we re-appraise our past operational successes and failures to re-strategize towards a more operationally effective NAF that can contribute to expeditiously ending the current scourge of insecurity.”
The Chief of the Air Staff noted that he has set up a committee of officers to compile all allegations of accidental strikes on civilians as well as review the circumstances leading to such strikes in the course of operation.
He commended President Muhammadu Buhari for his unflinching support, through which the NAF has achieved its current level of operational effectiveness.
In his remarks, the State Governor, Me Udom Emmanuel commended the Nigerian Air Force for their relentless efforts in combating the insurgents hoping to destabilize the country.
He noted that under the current leadership of the Chief of the Air Staff, NAF is experiencing professionalism in securing the nation.
Emmanuel, who stated that no development could take place in an insecure environment, pledged his commitment towards the advancement of NAF.
Our Correspondent reports that the theme of this year’s seminar is harnessing Nigerian Air Force combat experience in Joint Military Operations for doctrinal development”.
