NAF Calls for Calm Over Arepo Onslaught, Intensifies Operations

Senator Iroegbu in Abuja

The Nigerian Air Force (NAF) has urged members of the public who are terrified over the ongoing aerial onslaught against pipeline vandals in Arepo to remain calm.

The Director of Public Relations and Information (DOPRI), Group Captain Ayodele Famuyiwa, in a statement on Wednesday, said the call is necessary to allay their fears and sustain their confidence in the operations.

“The attention of the NAF has been drawn to media report on apprehension and panic by members of the public living around the area of ongoing air operations at Arepo and its environs.

“Thus, it has become necessary to allay the fear of the people with a view to sustaining public confidence and support for the ongoing operations against pipeline vandals codenamed Operation Awatse in the South West region of the Country,” Famuyiwa stated.

Therefore, he said, the NAF assured the general public within the affected areas of their safety as the ongoing air operation is carefully planned to avoid collateral damage to the civil populace and property.

Famuyiwa said that NAF is careful to ensure that only legitimate targets, such as observation post, anti-aircraft gun position, boats laden with suspected stolen petroleum products and armed combatants, are selected for strike.

He stressed that in aligning with this global best practice, the NAF usually undertakes surveillance flights before and after each strike to mitigate incidental harm to civilians and property.

He said: “While pre-strike assessment missions are undertaken to help identify and select legitimate military targets for neutralisation, post-strike or Battle Damage Assessment missions are meant to ascertain whether the desired degree of impact was achieved or not, and if a follow-up re-attack is required.

“It may also be necessary to state that NAF pilots are adequately trained, and as professionals, would not engage in human right violations and abuses.”

The DOPRI noted that the successes recorded in the past five days since the NAF commenced strike mission in Arepo, in support of surface forces under Operation Awatse, attest to the display of absolute professionalism by NAF pilots involved in the operation as no single incident of collateral damage has been recorded.

Further details later