NAF Deploys Armed Helicopters, Personnel to Taraba, Kaduna to Maintain Peace

• Buratai commends Borno on fight against Boko Haram

Paul Obi in Abuja

As tension continues to mount over the recent killings in Taraba State, the Nigerian Air Force (NAF) wednesday deployed armed helicopters and its personnel to checkmate the lingering crisis and maintain peace.

NAF Director of Public Relations and Information, Air Commodore Olatokunbo Adesanya, said in Abuja yesterday that the deployment of armed helicopters, NAF personnel and other materials would cover Takum and other parts of the state to give support to the ground forces in order to maintain peace in the area.

He said: “The deployment of the helicopter is also to deter warring  communities within the area from further engaging in violent activities. The helicopter is already carrying out armed reconnaissance missions within the Mambilla Plateau and environs.

“It will be recalled that pockets of violence broke out recently around the Mambilla Plateau resulting in the loss of lives and property. The communal unrest between grazers and farmers subsequently led to the imposition of a curfew.

“It therefore became necessary to deploy NAF air assets towards maintaining peace and providing air cover for ground troops. So far, members of the communities have been observed to be going about their business in peace.”

Adesanya also explained that “another NAF helicopter will soon be deployed in Kafanchan, Kaduna State, in support of the ground forces already working to maintain peace in the area.

“The helicopter will operate from a new NAF Forward Operating Base being established in Kafanchan, as part of the federal government efforts to ensure lasting peace in Southern Kaduna.

The Chief of Army Staff, Lieutenant General Tukur Yusufu  Buratai, commended Borno State Government  and Governor Kashim Shettima for embarking on the renovation of Nigerian Army barracks in Bama.

He applauded  Shettima for his unrelenting support to Operation Lafiya Dole which  assisted in the defeat of the Boko Haram terrorists and the kind gesture of the state government in providing  land for the newly established Nigerian Army University in the state.

Buratai added that the commencement of  renovation works in Bama barracks as timely as it would provide a more conducive environment for the troops to settle and discharge their duties of providing security for the entire Bama community and environs.