Chuks Oyema-Aziken
A peace Advocacy group, Nigerian Focus on Monday described the first 50 days of the Chief of Air Staff, Air Marshal Hassan Abubakar as inspiring, action packed and hopeful in the fight against criminals of all forms in the country.
The group in a press release on Monday noted that since the assumption of office on 19th June 2023, the CAS has not left any stone unturned in ensuring the service meets the expectations of the present administration.
The Groups President, Gbolahan Aguda who signed the press release commended the CAS for quickly keying into the inter-service collaboration as advised by President Bola Tinubu.
Nigerian Focus particularly commended the Nigerian Airforce for the fight against oil thieves in the Niger Delta and forcing bandits in the Northwest to seek for peace.
According to the group, “several ISWAP terrorists were killed in a series of airstrikes executed by the Air Component of Operation Hadin Kai on July 29, 2023, at Jibularam and Kwalaram in the North-East.
“Air strikes conducted by the air component of Operation Hadarin Daji in various locations in Zurmi, Tsafe, Faskari and Jibia Local Government Areas in Zamfara and Katsina States conducted from July 28 to 29, 2023 killed 16 insurgents.
“Over 22 terrorists loyal to the deceased notorious terrorists’ kingpin Alhaji Abdulkareen Lawal, aka Abdulkareen Boss, were on Monday, 17 July 2023, neutralized by air strikes conducted by the Air Component of Operation Hadarin Daji (OPHD) at Batsari and Sola Poi II in Batsari and Jibia Local Government Areas (LGA) of Katsina State.
The Group commended NAF for rescue of seven kidnapped victims in Birnin Gwari, Kaduna State by it’s Special Forces on night patrol on 6 August 2023.
Meanwhile, the Group said renewed airstrikes on oil thieves is a welcome development which will help to stop economic sabotage by criminals.
“We commend the CAS and the Air Component of Operation Delta Safe (OPDS) for the operations of Saturday 5 August 2023 at about 4 Nautical Miles South-East of Bille, a riverine area located west of Bonny Island which led to the destruction of 3 boats sighted tapping crude oil from a pipeline and illegal refining site with tanks and reservoirs loaded with suspected illegal refined products, about 4 miles South-east of Idama in Rivers State.
“Nigerian Focus use this opportunity to commend Chief of the Air Staff, Air Marshal Hassan Abubakar for this sterling performance and his directive to air component commanders to ensure they team up with other security agencies as they sustain air strikes on all criminal elements in the country,” the Group added.
