NAF to establish operational base in northern state

intern

October 25, 2016 10:41 AM

The Chief of Air Staff disclosed this at the opening of 8th Air Force Games in Katsina on Monday.

Nigerian Air Force members on aerial display during the opening ceremony of the 7th Nigerian Air Force Games

The Nigerian Air Force says it will establish an operational base in Katsina State to effectively tackle security challenge in the Northwest part of the country.

Air Marshall Sadiq Abubakar, the Chief of Air Staff, disclosed this at the opening of 8th Air Force Games in Katsina on Monday.

He said that the Air Force base would be established in Katsina and Daura.

Abubakar said the force had secured a land for the construction of the base in the two towns.

He said that it would assist the force to effectively fight insurgency, cattle rusting and other forms of criminal activities in the zone.

Abubakar revealed that NAF had been fighting insurgency and militancy in the North-East and South-South geo-political zones.

According to him, the NAF has been using aircraft/helicopters to carry out surveillance with the aim of checkmating the activities of oil bunkerers in the South-South.

He said the surveillance had started discouraging youths from engaging in the illegal business by arresting them and making them to know that it was no longer lucrative for them.

He also said NAF had provided sport facilities to various commands to enable personnel become physically and mentally fit for such challenges.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN), reports that contingents from five commands would take part in 13 different events.

intern