FG Handovers Two Presidential Aircraft To Nigeria Airforce, Reduces Fleet To 6.

The Federal Government has handed over two aircraft in the presidential fleet to the Nigerian Airforce.

The brief handing over ceremony took place at the presidential wing of the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport.

The handover of the two Agusta Westland AW101 helicopters acquired on 20 Oct 2014 and 21 May 2015 respectively, effectively brings the presidential air fleet to six. The Federal Government had earlier advertised for the sale the Falcon 7x 1 and Hawker 4000 aircrafts in the fleet.

The two aircraft being handed over today possess Ballistics defence capabilities, and are equipped against certain forms of missile attacks.

Receiving the helicopters from the National Security Adviser, Babagana Munguno, the Chief of Air Staff, Air Vice Marshall Abubakar said “It is with a big sense of appreciation that I accept these helicopters into the Air Force.”

He said one of the helicopters will be configured and deployed as an Air Ambulance, while the second one will be deployed as a Troop Carrier.

“The two Helicopters will be immediately reconfigured and deployed to the Northeast for the use of Nigerian troops.”

“The Air Ambulance will carry a Trauma Unit to ensure that injured troops get immediate medical assistance during airlift”

He added that “These helicopters are some of the most sophisticated, most comfortable and most equipped in the world.”

Ijaw Militants Hit As Heavy Military Bombardment Begins At Arepo Creeks, Other Parts of Lagos.

There was pandemonium on Thursday in the Arepo area of Ogun State and some part of Lagos State after the military bombarded the base of suspected militants in the states.

 

The PUNCH learnt that scores of militants were reportedly killed in the joint military operation which lasted for more than one hour.

 

A source said the military attacked Fatola, the base of the militants, adding that houses around the area were shaken by the impact of bomb explosions on the Ijaw militants.

 

He said, “There has been a lot of commotion. The Nigerian Air Force bombarded Fatola, in Arepo, which is the base of the militants. They are shelling the place with fighter jets. Some soldiers also surrounded the area to make sure that if any of the militants should run out, they would be gunned down.”

 

A resident said people in the area had started fleeing their homes due to the bombardment.

 

Another resident in the Imushin area of Ogun State told our correspondent that two aircrafts were involved in the operation, adding that only one base of the militants was attacked.

 

He said, “An aircraft had actually been surveying the creek for the past three days. But a second one joined this evening around 6pm. All we heard was a sudden bomb blast released from the second aircraft. But it appeared that some of the militants had fled into the bush. There are four major bases of the militants in the creek and they are led by two men- OC and Agbala. If the military can get these two people, then they would have succeeded in clipping the wings of the militants.”

 

A community leader, who claimed to have spoken with one of the officers, said, “The military officer said residents should not panic because it was a military exercise. I also gathered that the casualty figure was high and that a lot of the militants had been killed.”

 

The Director, Defence Information, Brig. Gen. Rabe Abubakar, confirmed the operation, saying it involved the army and the navy.

 

He said, “The military only conducts its routine operation for the purpose of denying the vandals and other criminal elements from causing terror in the area. The operation, codenamed, Operation Awatse, was initiated by the defence headquarters to dominate the area with a view to flushing out all manners of criminals including militants and saboteurs. The operation involved the joint forces of the navy and army and it has been successful.”

 

The Police Public Relations Officer, Lagos State, SP Dolapo Badmos, said the police were part of the operation.

 

She said, “The Nigerian military and policemen from the Lagos and Ogun commands are part of the operation. We are sweeping through the waterways where we share boundaries to end the activities of the militants. It is a continuous exercise and we cannot tell the number of casualties.”

 

The acting Police spokesperson, ASP Abimbola Oyeyemi, promised to call back our correspondent, but he had yet to do so as of press time.

 

Credit: The Punch