By OKOSUN DENNIS
The Chief of Air Staff (CAS), Air Marshal Sadiq Abubakar, Wednesday said the Nigerian Air Force would continue its air reconnaissance missions and aerial bombardments in the North-east and the Niger Delta until all criminal elements are decapitated.
He said the renewed activities of some criminals in the Niger Delta region on gas pipelines and skeletal activities of suicide bombing of soft bombings influenced the need for air reconnaissance.
Abubakar, who was at the 105 Communications Depot, Shasha, Lagos, to commission block of six three-bedroom flats officers’ residential accommodation said, “The combat operations against insurgents and terrorists in the North-eastern part of the country are still in progress.
“Expectedly, the NAF has remained a major player in carrying out aerial bombardment leading to the destruction of Boko Haram fighters’ camps and dislodging them from their strongholds within the Sambisa forest and adjoining enclaves.
“The sustained air operations provided greater latitude to the ground troops to rescue more people, mostly women and children, erstwhile abducted by the insurgents.
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“It is therefore gratifying to note that Boko Haram’s will to fight has been seriously degraded, thus limiting their skeletal activities to merely suicide bombings of soft target.
He added that remarkable success has been recorded in Operation Lafiya Dole, the renewed activities of some criminals in the Niger Delta, which include attacks on gas pipelines has increased the security challenges in region.
“Another disturbing security challenge is the recurring clash between farmers and herdsmen in some parts of the country which often leads to wanton destruction of lives and properties,” he reiterated
He said the provision of decent accommodation for officers, airmen and airwomen is a top priority of our policy thrust towards ensuring that the NAF personnel and their families live in a befitting environment.
Air Marshal Sadiq Abubakar had few weeks ago commissioned some navigational equipment at Shasha and Ikeja that would assist the force in its campaign against insurgents.