DEFENCE
NAF Appoints New Chiefs, Redeploys Others
The Nigerian Air Force (NAF) has redeployed a total of 36 Air Vice Marshals (AVMs) and 40 Air Commodores (Air Cdres) including some Branch Chiefs, Air Officers Commanding (AOCs), Commandants of Tri-Service Institutions, Directors and Commanders.
Air Commodore Ibikunle Daramola, NAF Director of Public Relations and Information announced this in a statement on Wednesday in Abuja.
He said the appointments and redeployments, which followed the recent promotion of some senior officers to the next higher ranks as well as the retirement of some senior officers, is a routine exercise aimed at further re-invigorating operational efficiency and enhancing service delivery.
Daramola said branch Chiefs affected by the redeployment included: AVM Oladayo Amao, the former Chief of Training and Operations (CTOP) Headquarters NAF (HQ NAF), who has now been appointed as the Chief of Policy and Plans (COPP).
He said AVM James Gwani, the erstwhile AOC Special Operations Command (SOC), has been appointed as the new CTOP.
” Additionally, AVM Musibau Olatunji has been appointed as the new Chief of Aircraft Engineering (CAcE), while AVM Mohammed Idris has been appointed as the Chief of Administration (COA) HQ NAF.
” Also redeployed are AVM Abubakar Liman, the erstwhile Commandant of the Armed Forces Resettlement Centre (AFRC), Oshodi, who has now been appointed as Commandant Armed Forces Command and Staff College (AFCSC), Jaji.
” AVM Kingsley Lar, the former COA HQ NAF, has been appointed as the Commandant of AFRC, Oshodi; while AVM Abdulganiyu Olabisi, the former AOC Logistics Command (LC) is now the Commandant, Air Force Institute of Technology (AFIT), Kaduna,” he said.
Daramola said the new AOCs included: AVM Olusegun Philip, who is now the AOC Tactical Air Command (AOC TAC) in Makurdi; AVM Charles Ohwo, the former AOC TAC, who is now the AOC SOC, Bauchi.
Others are : AVM Ibukun Ojeyemi who has been appointed as the AOC Mobility Command (MC) in Yenagoa and AVM Musa Muktar who is the new AOC Air Training Command (ATC); while the former Commandant AFCSC, AVM Lawal Alao, is now the AOC LC, Ikeja.
Daramola said other senior officers redeployed included: AVM Anderson Kassimu who is now the Managing Director NAF Properties Limited; AVM Mohammed Suleiman who is appointed as the Chief of Defence Policy and Plans (CDPP), Defence Headquarters (DHQ).
Others are : AVM Tunde Awoyoola as Chief of Defence Transformation and Innovation, DHQ; AVM Ubrufi Uzezi as Deputy Chief of the Defence Space Administration and AVM Charles Otegbade to the Air Traffic Services Training Centre (ATSTC), Kaduna as Commandant.
” Also affected are AVM Idi Lubo who is now the Director of Policy HQ NAF, AVM Ayoola Jolasinmi who is appointed as Director of Operations, AVM Aliyu Pani as the Director of Administration and Air Commodore Abraham Adole as Director of Training, HQ NAF.
” Also redeployed is the former Commander 011 Presidential Air Fleet (011 PAF), AVM Hassan Abubakar who is now the Chief of Staff (COS) MC, Yenagoa. He is to be replaced by Air Commodore Abubakar Abdullahi
” While Air Commodore Simon Peter is to take over as the Commander 053 NAF Camp, Abuja and Air Commodore Razak Olanrewaju is appointed as the new Commander 651 Bases Services Group, Ikeja.,” he said.
Daramola said the newly appointed and redeployed senior officers are expected to take over their new offices not later than Tuesday, Jan. 7, 2020. (NAN
The Minister of Defence, Mohammad Badaru, said he will be visiting military formations in Kaduna State, including Birnin Gwari and Kachia.
According to him, the visit is to commend the troops for their efforts and encourage them to maintain momentum in the fight against insecurity.
The minister made this known when he led a delegation on a courtesy visit to the Kaduna State Government House on Thursday.
He praised the state government, led by Gov.
Uba Sani, for its support, highlighting infrastructure rehabilitation, patrol vehicles’ donations and the provision of NYSC camps for troops’ accommodation.Badaru also lauded the collaboration between the state and federal governments, emphasising the importance of continued cooperation to tackle insecurity in the North-West.
Sani, while responding, reiterated the state’s commitment to bolstering security in the state
The governor highlighted the significance of the visit, saying that it allowed the finalisation of preparations for the launch of Operation Fansan Yamma, a new theatre command for the North-West and neighboring states like Niger.
He described the operation as a strategic initiative to address the complex security challenges in the region.
Sani lamented the devastating effects of insecurity on the North-West, which once served as Nigeria’s food basket.
He decried, ”But it now faces widespread food insecurity, poor access to healthcare, and educational disruptions.”
Sani, however, expressed optimism that the establishment of the joint military theatre would lead to improvements in these areas.
According to hi, it will also create a better environment for investment, economic growth, and the revival of key infrastructure.
Sani also urged the minister to review Operation Safe Haven in Southern Kaduna for possible restructuring under the 1 Division in Kaduna.
The governor also provided updates on the progress of Operation Safe Corridor in the North-West, thanking all the parties involved in its development.
Sani stressed the need for stronger collaboration among the security agencies and neighboring states to create a unified strategy against terrorists, bandits, and kidnappers.
He also called for a ‘Marshall Plan’ for the North-West’s development, with the newly established North-West Development Commission.
Sani stated that this would lead efforts to address the root causes of insecurity, including poverty and lack of infrastructure.
He also expressed gratitude to President Bola Tinubu and the military high command for their support.
Sani also pledged to continue pushing for reforms that would strengthen security in the North-West and across Nigeria.(NAN
The Defence Headquarters (DHQ) says the troops of Operation Delta Safe destroyed 65 illegal refining sites across the Niger Delta region in the last one week.The Director of Defence Media Operations, Maj.-Gen. Edward Buba, made this known while briefing newsmen on the operations of the armed forces, on Thursday in Abuja.
Buba said the troops also discovered and destroyed two dugout pits, 58 boats and 39 storage tanks, 13 cooking ovens, 35 drums, one motorcycle, one tricycle, four speed boat and 13 vehicles during the period. He said the troops also recovered 789,200 litres of stolen crude oil and 64,950 litres of illegally refined AGO.He added that troops rescued one kidnapped hostage, apprehended 35 suspected oil thieves and other violent extremist as well as recovered assorted arms.According to him, the Air Component conducted air interdiction aimed at curbing security challenges, crude oil theft, and damage of oil and gas infrastructure among others.“During the operations, several illegal refining sites, storage tanks, reservoirs, barges and boats were destroyed,” he said.In the South East, Buba said the troops of Operation UDO KA, had meeting engagement with suspected terrorists, conducted raid, offensive operations as well as arrested violent extremists/IPOB/ESN terrorists in Anambra, Ebonyi and Imo States.He said the troops neutralised nine terrorists, apprehended 21 violent extremists and rescued 14 kidnapped hostages as well as recovered large cache of arms and ammunition. (NAN)
The Nigerian Army says its troops have eliminated eight terrorists and rescued 40 abducted individuals in a series of coordinated operations across the country.The army, in a post on its official X Handle on Monday, said the recent victories had further tightened the noose around the necks of unrepentant terrorists and their collaborators.
The post added that the troops also apprehended a notorious arms courier found with a large cache of ammunition, striking a major blow against arms proliferation by criminal elements. According to army, troops, acting acting on genuine intelligence on Sept. 28, conducted a strategic stop-and-search operation along the Lafia-Keffi Road in Nasarawa State.“This resulted in the arrest of a firearms courier and the recovery of 303 live rounds of 7.62mm (special) ammunition concealed in a bag.“The suspect and the vehicle were immediately taken into custody, and further investigations are ongoing to apprehend his accomplices.“In another operation in Kaduna State, troops executed precision strikes in the forests near Danmari and Saulawa villages in Birnin Gwari Local Government Area, where one terrorist was eliminated.“Additional engagements in Ankwa village of Kachia Local Government Area also led to the annihilation of two more terrorists and the recovery of a locally made firearm, 11 rounds of 7.62mm (special) ammunition, and a motorcycle used by the terrorists,” it said.The post also revealed that troops in an encounter with fleeing terrorists at Faayijiwa Fandanari village in Magumeri Local Government Area of Borno, recovered two AK-47 rifles, 61 rounds of 7.62mm (NATO), 51 rounds of 7.62mm (special ) ammunition, hard drugs and various supplies.It said the terrorists abandoned the firearms and ammunition after succumbing to the troops’ superior firepower.According to the post, further operations in Gwoza Local Government Area resulted in the neutralization of three terrorists near Ashigashiya village, while vigilant troops responding to credible intelligence, pursued and intercepted a convoy suspected of transporting logistics to terrorists at Gubio.“Three vehicles loaded with food supplies intended for terrorist camps were seized, and the sum of N2,400 recovered.“The efforts in Kukawa Local Government Area yielded another victory as troops, acting on intelligence, intercepted terrorists attempting to relocate abducted victims from Cijin village.“The terrorists fled upon sighting the troops, abandoning 38 hostages, including six men, eight women, and 24 children, who were safely rescued by the troops.“Meanwhile, in Yobe, troops responding to reports of terrorists extorting civilians staged a successful ambush in Sasawa village in Damaturu Local Government Area.“The troops neutralized one terrorist and recovered one AK-47 rifle along with a motorcycle.“The Chief of Army Staff has commended the troops for their bravery and relentless fight for peace. He also expressed gratitude to the citizens whose continuous provision of credible information has been instrumental in these successes.“The Nigerian Army remains steadfast in its mission to obliterate terrorism and safeguard the lives of all Nigerians,” it added. (NAN)
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