Nigerian Airforce Kills Scores Of Boko Haram Terrorists

The Nigerian Airforce  jets have bombed Boko haram terrroists  in Bula Korege area of Bornu State on the fringes of Sambisa Forest, during a meeting by the  terrorists.

According to NAF, The attack which were carried out by its Alpha Jets in coordination with its state of the art ISR platforms attached to the Air Task Force of Operation Lafiya Dole which lead to the killing of scores of the insurgents.

Battle Damage Assessment (BDA) images released by NAF

The Air force said on Monday that the insurgents were attacked on Saturday, following "successive days of intelligence, Surveillance and Reconnaissance Missions, coupled with human intelligence reports."

Buildings were discovered by the military surveillance within the settlement used as logistics base from where the insurgents launched attacks against troops and civilians.

The NAF Director of Public Relations and Information, Air Commondore Ibukunle Daramola who confirmed the air strikes in a release said the NAF, operating in concert with surface forces, would sustain its operations against the Boko Haram terrorists in the North-East.

NAF ACTIVATES 21 QUICK RESPONSE WING IN AGATU

In continuation of efforts to enhance operational responsiveness and effectiveness of the Nigerian Air Force (NAF), the Chief of the Air Staff (CAS), Air Marshal Sadique Abubakar, yesterday, 19 October 2018, activated the 21 Quick Response Wing (21 QRW) at Agatu in Benue State. The unit, which is under the control of the 211 Quick Response Group Owerri, was established to further enhance NAF’s ability to respond to internal security threats within the Nasarawa-Benue States corridor, working in synergy with other security agencies. While in Agatu, the CAS also inspected the renovated office and residential accommodation at the 21 QRW Base and handed over a borehole constructed by the NAF to the Obagaji Community in Agatu. The CAS, who was accompanied by the Air Officer Commanding Special Operations Command (AOC SOC), Air Vice Marshal (AVM) Samson Akpasa, and other senior officers from NAF Headquarters, was received in Agatu by the Chairperson Agatu Local Government Area (LGA), Honourable Comfort Echida, as well as the traditional ruler of Agatu, Chief Dr Godwin Ngbede. 

Speaking during the activation ceremony, the CAS stated that he was delighted to be in Agatu to personally activate the 21 QRW. He noted that the decision to establish the QRW in Agatu, as well as the QRWs established at Nguroje in Taraba State and Doma in Nasarawa State, was taken following thorough analysis of the threat environment in the area. Based on this, a request was made to the Commander-in-Chief (C-in-C) of the Armed Forces of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, President Muhammadu Buhari, through the Honourable Minister of Defence (HMOD), who graciously approved the establishment of the unit. The CAS therefore thanked the C-in-C for approving the establishment of the unit and providing the necessary resources to make it a reality. He noted that the establishment of the unit would contribute immensely towards curbing spate of attacks in the area while ensuring that peace is sustained. 

Speaking further, the CAS stressed that the NAF would continue to emplace additional facilities, equipment and manpower in the QRW to enable it function effectively and fulfil its mandate. He noted that the ultimate aim was to have at least 500 Special Forces personnel in the unit along with complements of support personnel from other NAF specialties. He also mentioned that NAF would eventually construct a Helipad in the Base to enable the deployment of helicopter gunships to support operations in the area, whenever required. The CAS therefore assured the Chairperson Agatu LGA, the traditional ruler of Agatu and other members of the community that the NAF would continue to do its best to add value to the place. To this end, he announced that the NAF would conduct a 7-day medical outreach for members of the host community in Agatu, which would cater for their medical and minor surgical needs while major surgical cases would be referred to the NAF Hospital in Makurdi with adequate arrangements made for medical evacuation. 

Air Marshal Abubakar pledged that the NAF would eventually set up a well-equipped Medical Centre at the 21 QRW that would provide free medical services to the host community. He however requested the continued support of the traditional ruler, community leaders and all members of the community to provide much needed intelligence that would facilitate the conduct of operations to counter threats in the area. He urged them to interact freely with the CO and personnel of 21 QRW who had been tasked to provide necessary support to the host community. While handing over the automated borehole system with 9,000 litres storage capacity and 16 tap heads to the Chairperson Agatu LGA and the traditional ruler of Agatu, the CAS noted that the NAF had provided a generator and would also provide fuel to keep the borehole running. 

The CAS had earlier commissioned the second and final phase of the modernization and expansion of the water supply system in NAF Base Makurdi. Conducting the CAS round the facility, the AOC Tactical Air Command, AVM Oladayo Amao, stated that the first phase of the project was executed by Direct Labour in January while the second phase was executed under the 2017 capital projects. The project increased the reservoir capacity from 900,000 litres to 1.35 Million litres with the construction of an additional 450,000 litres sedimentation tank. It also entailed the fabrication and installation of surface and overhead tanks to increase the total capacity to 2.45 Million litres. The reticulation pipes within the Base were also replaced, boosting the water supply by 100 percent. The CAS also commissioned the Battery Charging and Maintenance Bay at the 131 Engineering Group, which had been remodelled and renovated to ensure safer and more efficient conduct of maintenance activities in the Group. 

NIGERIA BEEFS UP JF-17 THUNDER BUDGET

Nigeria’s new budget has been beefed up to accommodate new payments for its incoming JF-17 thunder jets. The budget which was signed recently into law saw the inclusion an additional $47 million dollars to the initial $35 million dollars previously allocated for the order of the multi-role jets in 2016.

Although details of how many units  likely to be added to the three units already paid for are still under wraps, it appears deliveries will commence soon as Nigeria looks to boast its Air force with more platforms. The JF-17 Thunder will also come handy due to its multirole capability and low cost of operation.

 This deal will sure be a delight and morale boaster to servicemen combating insurgency in the countries north east as NAF is also taking deliveries of Mi-35M helicopters. Augusta LUH helicopters and Super Tucano in other to boast their Air options.

It is however unclear what variant of the thunder Nigeria is ordering, but the end of the year looks certain to have some of these platforms ready for delivery.

Army Debunks Stories Of Troops Missing

The Nigerian Army has debunked stories making the rounds of its troops missing in action after a reported attack by Boko haram insurgents.The Army spokesman in a tweet via its verified twitter handle denied the attack and further went ahead to reveal 22 boko haram insurgents were killed by troops in their bid to cart away arms and ammunition belonging to the gallant troops.

This report is misleading same time blown out of proportion, thus NOT TRUE. There was an attempt by BH to cart away troops operational vehicles which was successfully repelled by our gallant troops. About 22 members of terrorists were killed, others escaped with gunshot wounds - said the Army.

Nigerian Air Force Launch Tsaigumi Drone

The Nigerian Air Force today lunched  the final model of  its Tsaigumi Unmanned Aerial Vehicle(UAV) . The event which took place in Kaduna had President Muhammadu Buhari and other dignitaries gracing  the occasion.
It features multiple design features from the earlier Gulma model including :
10hrs endurance Mission range 100km 15,000ft Altitude
80kg weight
FLIR Camera and Sensors
And a larger wing span. The Tsaigumi UAV can be applied to function in several roles including Counter Insurgency, Surveillance and Disaster Management.

BREAKING NEWS: NAF Helicopter Crashes In North East Counter-insurgency Operation

A Nigerian Air Force (NAF) Mi-17 Helicopter has suffered a mishap while undertaking a mission in the ongoing counterinsurgency operation in the North East. The incident, which occurred today, 8 January 2018, resulted in significant damage to the helicopter. There was, however, no loss of lives as a result of the incident. The Chief of the Air Staff, Air Marshal Sadique Abubakar, has immediately directed the constitution of a board of inquiry to determine the exact cause of the incident, in line with global best practices. The NAF continues to solicit the understanding and support of the general populace as it daily strives to ensure the security of Nigeria and Nigerians.
OLATOKUNBO ADESANYA
Air Vice Marshal
Director of Public
Relations and Information

INNOSON TO MANUFACTURE MILITARY VEHICLES FOR THE NIGERIAN ARMY

The Nigerian Army has formally gone into partnership with Nigerian indigenous motor manufacturing company, Innoson Motors Manufacturing Company for modification of some of its equipment, local production of armoured fighting vehicles and other military hardwares. This was made manifest during a meeting between the management of the company let by the Chairman, Doctor Innocent Chukwuma and the leadership of the Nigerian Army led by the Chief of Army Staff, Lieutenant General TY Buratai at the Army Headquarters, Abuja.
In his remarks, the Chief of Army Staff, congratulated the company for giant strides it has recorded in the production of various brands of vehicles lately. He said that the essence of the meeting was to further formalize the business relationship between the Nigerian Army and Innoson Vehicle Manufacturing Company. The Chief of Army Staff recalled with delight that the Nigerian Army being patriotic and in a bid to encourage local entrepreneurs asked Innoson Motors to supply 3 vehicles early last year which were found to be durable and performing very well as they were employed in combat and proved to be useful, comfortable and convenient in military operations. Based on that the Nigerian Army acquired over 70 more variants of the Innoson vehicles which were deployed in the North East for Operation LAFIYA DOLE. He further stated that the Nigerian Army desires to deepens its cooperation by partnering with Innoson Vehicle Manufacturing Company Limited to conceptualize, design, modify and produce military hardwares.
The specific areas of partnership between the Nigerian Army and the company include immediate supply of 100 vehicles, supply of appropriate gears, engines and chassis required for immediate modifications and repairs of armoured fighting vehicles in the North East Theatre of Operations. Identifying requirements for production of armoured fighting vehicle in Nigerian Army Central Workshop in Kaduna and enhancing capacity of Nigerian Army personnel to actively participate on the successful implementation of these joint ventures.
Responding, Doctor Innocent Chukwuma expressed happiness that the Nigerian Army has found his vehicles working perfectly and commended the Chief of Army Staff for his great sense of patriotism. He promised to assist the Nigerian Army in its quest for better vehicles for its troops and resuscitation of its Special Vehicle Plant and Workshops. Dr Innocent Chukwuma further thanked the Chief of Army Staff for the commendation, maintaining that his company would continue to improve and expand its capacity in vehicle manufacturing. He further appreciated the Nigerian Army for the patronage, describing the critical role the Nigerian Army is playing in national development through the fight against insurgency in the North East and Nigeria in general.
Highlight of the occasion was inspection and handing over of 3 of the newly manufactured vehicles by the company for trial by the Nigerian Army. These newly manufactured vehicles are; IVM G80 Bigger Jeep, IVM G40 Smaller Jeep and IVM Granite Pickup.