Navy lauds NAF over counter-insurgency

The Chief of Naval Staff (CNS), Vice Admiral Ibok Ekwe-Ibas said without the Air power deployed by the Nigerian Air Force (NAF), the counter-insurgency operations in the Northeast would not have been successful.

He made this known yesterday at the Air Force Headquarters in Abuja, during the winging ceremony of ten pilots after their training at the Westline Aviation Academy in South Africa.

The CNS, who was Guest of Honour during the ceremony said, “I dare say that the course of the counter insurgency operations would probably not have been as promising, without the indispensable and ubiquitous air support.”

He also acknowledged that, “In the same vein, your operations in supporting capacity against the various illegalities in the nation’s maritime domain and participation in regional exercises have been invaluable.”

Earlier in his address, the Chief of Air Staff (CAS), Air Marshal Sadique Abubakar said the NAF has done well in discharging its duties in all ongoing internal security operations.

He expressed delight with the winging of the ten new pilots, noting that about 30 pilots have been trained within the last five months.

The ten pilots decorated with their NAF pilots wings yesterday include; Kolade Alao, Musbahu Haruna, Anas Samaila, Ifeanyi Ifezue, Nurudeen Bose, Salim Kundil, Mahmood Aburinae, Ahmad Yusuf, Alfred Bello and Lateef Atobatele.