Insurgency: NAF Depoys More Combat Aircraft to NE in Support of ‘OP’S LAFIYA DOLE’.

Insurgency: NAF Depoys more combat aircraft to NE in support of ‘OP’S LAFIYA DOLE’.

Hours after President Muhammadu Buhari decorated the new Service Chiefs with their new ranks in Abuja and gave them 3 months ultimatum to clear the Boko Haram menace, Chief of Air Staff, Air Marshal Saddique Abubakar yesterday ordered the deployment of more fighter aircraft to the North East.

The aircraft are all attack, precision guided hitters; close combat and surveillance fighter jets and helicopters.

A statement confirming the deployment, signed by the Director of Airforce Public relations, Air Commodore Dele Alonge said, “In a renewed drive to crush the fighting will of the Boko Haram Terrorist (BHT) group, the Nigerian Air Force (NAF) has deployed additional combat platforms to North East Nigeria in support of the ongoing counter-insurgency operation codenamed ‘OPERATION LAFIYA DOLE’.

“The new deployment came on the heel of the recent visit of the Chief of the Air Staff, Air Marshal Sadiq B. Abubakar to the operational areas.

“The newly deployed platforms include the F-7Ni fighter (supersonic) aircraft, Mi-24/35 attack helicopters, Agusta 109 LUH, Supa Puma Combat Support helicopter and ATR-42 surveillance aircraft which hitherto had been away for scheduled maintenance”.

Continuing Alonge said, “The provision of additional platforms in the North-East is in line with President Mohammadu Buhari’s mandate to bring an end to insurgency in the North-East.

“The new deployment is aimed at boosting existing military efforts to defeat the Boko Haram Terrorists.

“It is also expected to enhance the capability of the Nigerian Armed Forces to fight in a more proactive and efficient manner.”

END.