Nigeria Air Force Plane Involved In Minor Crash 

A Nigerian Air Force Super Mushshak trainer aircraft has been involved in a minor mishap which occured this Thursday, 7 March 2024 at about 2.35pm.   NAF Director, Public relations and Information, Air Vice Marshal Edward Gabkwet indicates in a press release that the accident, which occurred about 3.5 nautical miles from Kaduna Military airfield, involved 2 pilots who were returning from a routine training flight. Both pilots escaped the crash unhurt.  The Chief of Air Staff, Air Marshal Hasan Abubakar has directed preliminary investigation to determine the immediate cause of the crash.

Off-cycle Elelctions: INEC Chairman Seeks Air Force Support and Collaboration

Further to preparations towards a successful conduct of forthcoming off-cycle electuons nationwide, the Chairman of Independent National Elec5oral Commission, Prof Mahmoud Yakubu has solicited support of the Nigeria Airforce. The INEC Chairman disclosed that the Commission is set to conduct bye-elections and re-run elections in 26 states, covering various levels of representation. Speaking during a visit to the Chief of Air Staff, Air Marshal H.B. Abubakar, Prof. Yakubu expressed gratitude for the warm reception and congratulated the Air Chief on his appointment. He also commended the Air Force for cooperating with election management body regarding election security and logistics, highlighting their professionalism and neutrality. With elections scheduled in nine states to fill vacancies in the national and state assemblies, Prof. Mahmood Yakubu emphasized the need for collaboration with national assets, including the Nigerian Air Force (NAF). Addressing the upcoming electoral tasks, the Chairman outlined the extensive scale of the elections, involving 80 local government areas, 575 registration areas/wards, and 8,934 polling units. A total of 4,904,627 registered voters are expected to participate, with 4,613,291 Permanent Voters’ Cards (PVCs) already collected. Recognizing the enormity of the assignment, Prof. Mahmood Yakubu stressed that the Commission cannot accomplish it alone. Referring to Section 27(3) of the Electoral Act 2022, he highlighted the legal provision empowering the Commission to seek support from security, intelligence, and law enforcement agencies for the efficient delivery of materials and protection of election officials. In preparation for the elections, the Chairman sought the support of the NAF in expeditiously delivering materials to specific locations in the North East, South East, and South West geopolitical zones. The Commission, in collaboration with the Central Bank of Nigeria, is handling the evacuation of materials from focal airports to states where elections will occur. Prof. Mahmood Yakubu assured transparency in the inspection and movement of materials, involving all stakeholders, including political parties’ agents, observers, and the media. In conclusion, the Chairman expressed gratitude to the Chief of the Air Staff for the audience and support, anticipating yet another seamless collaboration with the Nigerian Air Force. In his remarks, the Chief of Air Staff, Air Marshal H.B. Abubakar expressed gratitude to the Chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), Professor Mahmood Yakubu, for fostering democracy and strengthening collaboration between the Nigerian Air Force (NAF) and INEC, emphasizing their shared commitment to good governance, stability, and the rule of law across Nigeria. He noted that there is an alternative aircraft for transporting sensitive materials, urging timely planning due to capacity limitations. Additionally, he reminded Prof. Yakubu of outstanding bills, emphasizing their settlement for enhanced service delivery. In closing, the CAS expressed gratitude for the visit, foreseeing increased cooperation and synergy between NAF and INEC as he anticipated positive impacts on Nigeria’s democratic processes, affirming their collective commitment to maintaining the country’s status as the giant of Africa.

Disaster Management: NEMA, NAF strengthens partnership

The National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA) and the Nigerian Air Force (NAF), have pledged to strengthen partnerships for effective response to imminent flood and disaster management. The organisations made the pledge, when the Director-General of NEMA, Mr Mustapha Ahmed and his management team, visited the Chief of Air Staff, Air Vice Marshal Hassan Abubakar in Abuja. Ahmed said that the decision was necessary in view of the flood forecast by the Nigerian Meteorological Agency (NIMET), and other forms of disaster that may likely affect some parts of the country. “With the increasing rate of occurrence and severity of disasters in Nigeria and across the world, it has become necessary for NEMA to strengthen its partnership with the Nigerian Air Force. “This will enable us to save lives during emergencies and promote disaster risk reduction in communities. “The unpredictable rainy season, which has started to wreak havoc in some states of the federation, including the Federal Capital Territory is a confirmation of NIMET flood prediction. “Therefore, the time has come when NEMA will require the support of the Nigerian Airforce, particularly in the areas of search and rescue, transportation of personnel, equipment and other life-saving relief items,” he said. Responding, Abubakar assured NEMA that the Nigerian Air Force would continue to provide the needed support when required, as part of its responsibilities. He said that the Nigerian Air Force, would avail its 22 Disaster Response Units, located in different parts of the country to support NEMA’s disaster management activities.

NAF airstrike in Nasarawa killed only terrorists – Military

The Director, Public Relations and Information, Nigerian Air Force (NAF), Air Commodore Ayodele Famuyiwa, has explained that the military airstrike of January 24 in Nasarawa State only targeted and eliminated terrorists. Famuyiwa said this while reacting to questions at a bi-weekly news briefing on the operations of the armed forces, on Thursday in Abuja. He said the air strike was carried out after a series of intel and surveillance, adding that innocent civilians were not killed as being speculated in some quarters. He faulted the report by Human Rights Watch (HRW) alleging that the NAF bombarded herders who were evacuating their cattle in Kwatiri, a border community between Benue and Nasarawa. In its report on June 7, HRW said “Nigerian authorities have provided little information and no justice” with regard to the airstrike. “Although the authorities admitted carrying out the raid, the organisation said, they evaded “key questions” concerning the circumstances surrounding the attack. HRW said their preliminary investigations revealed that the pastoralists had gone to Kwatiri to pay fines for the release of their cattle seized by the Benue State Livestock Guards when they were struck in the air raid. But in his reaction to the report on Thursday, NAF spokesman challenged the organisation to produce evidence to prove the allegation that those killed in the airstrike were not terrorists. According to him, there had been Intel from several reliable sources of the activities of terrorists in that particular area. “You are all aware of the nefarious activities of criminal elements in that part of the country. “We are also aware that there is an ongoing operation, that is, Operation Whirl Stroke and the Intel came from several sources and even to the commander of that operation for the air component that there was plan by terrorists within that area to carry out a massive attack. “And then there was a secondary school in question that they also planned to kidnap students. “To that extent, the air force carried out surveillance and the surveillance confirmed that there were terrorists and that surveillance continued for almost throughout the day until later in the evening when a truck appeared in that scene. “The truck was suspected to have brought logistics to them and that was why approval was given by the appropriate authority that that truck be taken out and the truck was taken out. “Now if anyone is coming around to say innocent people were killed where is the photograph of the truck that brought the cattle that they are talking about?,” he asked. Famuyiwa said the claim that the people came there to pay for their cattle was not tenable. He also challenged anyone accusing the military to come out with proofs such as photograph of the said truck, the cattle and dead bodies. “The position of the air force is that terrorists were struck that day and whether it is whatever group and if they think they were innocent people, let them provide the evidence. “If you think the military is going to give you the evidence of that operation for now, you won’t get it because there is information that cannot be declassified now. “Let the people who said innocent citizens were killed, provide the evidence and let the press do the analysis and then the truth will come up,” he said.

Tinubu holds first meeting with Service Chiefs

President Bola Tinubu on Thursday met with the Service Chiefs at the State House in Abuja. The routine meeting in the previous administrations is the first since President Tinubu’s assumption of office on May 29, 2023. Those in attendance at the President’s first engagement with heads of the nation’s security and intelligence agencies include the Chief of Army Staff, Lt. Gen. Farouk Yahaya; Chief of Naval Staff, Vice Admiral Awwal Gambo; the Chief of Air Staff, Air Marshal Isiaka Amao; and the Inspector-General of Police, Usman Alkali Baba. Others are the Director-General of the Department of State Service (DSS), Yusuf Bichi; and the Director-General of the National Intelligence Agency (NIA), Ahmed Rufai Abubakar. Tinubu, during his inaugural speech on Monday, promised to prioritise security, amongst other pressing areas. He said, “We shall defend the nation from terror and all forms of criminality that threaten the peace and stability of our country and our sub-region.” “Security shall be the top priority of our administration because neither prosperity nor justice can prevail amidst insecurity and violence. “To effectively tackle this menace, we shall reform both our security doctrine and its architecture. “We shall invest more in our security personnel, and this means more than an increase in number. We shall provide, better training, equipment, pay, and firepower,” he added.