More combat aircrafts deployed to fight Boko Haram in the North-East

The authorities of the Nigerian Air Force have deployed more combat aircraft to intensify the on-going operation against the Boko Haram insurgents in the North East.

The Director of Public Relations and Information of the Nigerian Air Force, Air Commodore Dele Alonge, said in an electronic mail on Thursday that the deployments were made shortly after a recent visit of the Chief of Air Staff, Air Marshal Sadique Abubakar, to the mission areas.



The deployed aircraft include the F-7Ni fighter aircraft, Mi-24/35 attack helicopters, Agusta 109 LUH, Supa Puma Combat Support helicopter and ATR-42 surveillance aircraft.

Alonge said that ATR-42 surveillance aircraft had been away for scheduled maintenance.

According to him, the additional aircraft were deployed in line with a directive from President Mohammadu Buhari that the insurgency should be brought to end.

The Air Force Spokesman said that the deployment of the additional aircraft was intended to boost the capacity of the Armed Forces to defeat the insurgency.

He said, “In a renewed drive to crush the fighting will of the Boko Haram terrorist group, the Nigerian Air Force has deployed additional combat platforms to North-East Nigeria in support of the on-going counter-insurgency operation codenamed ‘OPERATION LAFIYA DOLE’.

“The new deployment came on the heels of the recent visit of the Chief of Air Staff, Air Marshal Sadiq Abubakar to the operational areas.

‘The newly deployed platforms include the F-7Ni fighter aircraft, Mi-24/35 attack helicopters, Agusta 109 LUH, Supa Puma Combat Support helicopter and ATR-42 surveillance aircraft which hitherto had been away for scheduled maintenance.

‘The provision of additional platforms in the North-East is in line with President Mohammadu Buhari’s mandate to bring an end to insurgency in the North-East.

“The new deployment is aimed at boosting existing military efforts to defeat the Boko Haram terrorists. It is also expected to enhance the capability of the Nigerian Armed Forces to fight in a more proactive and efficient manner.”