The Chief of Air Staff, Air Marshal Hassan Abubakar, has assured that troops of Operation Hadrin Daji and Operation Whirl Punch will decimate the terrorists /bandits groups in Niger state and North West region of the country.
He gave the assurance when the Governor of Niger State Umar Bago, paid him a condolence visit over the death of his pilots and some soldiers who died in an air crash on August 14, 2023 near Chukuba Village in Shiroro Local Government Area of Niger State.
Marshal Abubakar vowed that air troops of Operation Hadrin Daji and Operation Whirl Punch will continue to crack down on the non-state actors until they are completely neutralised .
“I want to assure you that the Nigerian Air Force and the Armed Forces of Nigeria will remain committed, dedicated and undaunted in our efforts at eradicating these security challenges being perpetrated by these non-state actors.”
According to him,Nigerian Air Force has continued to increase its air power commitment in both Operation Hadrin Daji and Operation Whirl Punch which directly impact the activities of these criminal elements in Niger State and the North West region as a whole.
We are putting a lot initiatives in place to check this. For example, we have adopted the safety management systems in all our operations. We have also adopted operational risk management procedures among others. Going forward, we are striving to achieve zero incident in all our operations. That challenge we’re addressing.
“On our own parts, we are not folding our arms, we are just living with the challenges. The ideal thing is to strive for zero incident and accident in any operational environment.
“We’re striving for that, it is virtually impossible to achieve but then, you strive for it, so that at the end of the day, you minimise whatever happens. Or when it happens, the effect is significantly abated.
CAS noted that as long as they operate and fly in order to degrade the enemies, incident or accident cannot be ruled out completely, adding that the important thing is to ensure the problem is reduced to the barest minimum.
“As you are all aware, Niger state and indeed other states of the North West region are plagued by the menace of banditry, insurgency and other security challenges. These challenges have continued to threaten the peace and security and well-being of the people.
“Our approach now, is to intensify our activities in tandem with the land forces to completely eradicate all these criminal elements, to at least significantly degrade their combat capabilities.”
While expressing his condolences, Governor of Niger State, Umar Bago had condemned terrorism and banditry activities in the state. He expressed deep concern about safety in Zunguru axis of the state where bandits and terrorists are operating.
The NAF MI-171 helicopter involved in the crash was conveying causualty to Kaduna and had departed Zungeru Primary School enroute Kaduna but crashed on 14th August 2023 near Chukuba Village in Shiroro Local Government Area of Niger State .
Sadly with their propaganda on Monday evening a group of terrorists posted a viral sense of the accident on internet claiming responsibility for the crash with some of them saying they did it with Ak47 rifles and prayers.
But , Chairman of Shiroro Local Government Akilu Ishaku while speaking on the incident in Minna, the Niger State capital,on Monday said the crash occurred Badna Village under Kwaki Chukuba ward . He said the incident made the residents of the area flee to neighbouring villages in Erana, Zumba and Gwada for safety as a result of fear.