By Emmanuel Obisue
Nigeria’s Chief of Air Staff, CAS, Air Marshal Oladayo Amao has charged operational commanders in the Northeast and Northwest to remain resolute and steadfast in sustaining ongoing onslaught against remnants of terrorists and insurgents.
His charge comes barely a week after brainstorming with past and present Nigerian Air Force, NAF operational commanders at the 2022 NAF Operations Seminar in Uyo, Akwa Ibom State on the most effective strategies to adopt in the employment of air power against terrorists and insurgents.
A statement made available by Air Commodore Edward Gabkwet, NAF’s Director of Public Relations and Information, informed that the CAS gave the charge on Thursday in Katsina at an event to review the progress made so far.
The event afforded Air Marshal Amao and the field commanders the opportunity to “review and re-appraise current ongoing joint operations in order to re-strategize towards a more operationally effective NAF, saddled with the expeditious conclusion of the current scourge of insecurity in the country”.
In doing so, the CAS reminded the commanders to take cognizance of the dynamism and complexities of the ever-changing security environment, while adopting the best strategies required to promote NAF’s retention of credible air power capability to prosecute its operations.
Air Marshal Amao expressed satisfaction with the current operational momentum deployed against terrorists and insurgents in the Northeast and Northwest which has led to the elimination of several key terrorists’ leaders and their cohorts.
“The deployment of air power against terrorists and insurgents has changed the tides of the ongoing operations in the entire northern Nigeria thereby giving most Nigerians some respite and confidence in the abilities of the Armed Forces of Nigeria. We mustn’t, however, be complacent believing that the enemy has been defeated. Instead, we must continue to seize the initiative while dictating the pace of the operations,” he said.
The CAS also stated that the new platforms being expected into the inventory of the NAF in the first quarter of 2023 and beyond would no doubt add impetus to ongoing operations.
“On my part, be rest assured that I will continue to ensure that you get all that you require to effectively execute the operations. Let me also use this medium to reassure you of the Federal Government’s commitment to your welfare and well being,” he said.
