Nigerian Air Force creates Special Forces command to fight insurgency in North-East

The Nigerian Air Force has established a Special Forces command to bolster its operations in the North-East and other internal security operations across the country.

The Chief of Air Staff, Sadique Abubakar, disclosed this on Thursday while delivering a lecture titled: “Nigerian Air Force: Challenges and Future Perspectives”, at the National Defence College, Abuja.


“The Air Force is not only fighting in the air, and therefore, whatever it is that we need to have to fulfill our mandate in the face of the present challenges is what we are working toward putting on the ground.

“We are establishing a new command known as the Special Forces Command as part of ongoing restructuring of our operations.

“The establishment of the Special Forces Command would facilitate the development of NAF’s response capability in both internal and external security operations, as well as increase Nigeria’s self-reliance in strategic security operations,” he said.

Mr. Abubakar said that NAF had upgraded some combat units and established new ones as part of its review of its combat operations across the country.

He also announced the establishment of a Base Defence Coordination Centre which would become operational by the end of Jan. 2016.

“The Nigerian Air Force has taken some policy decisions to enhance our operational capabilities some of which include the upgrade of units and establishment of new ones.

“Among the upgraded units are the 305 helicopter group and 95 helicopter combat unit.

“The new ones include the establishment of the 89 Combat Group to be located in Bauchi to aid combat operations with air logistics in the North-East,’’ he said.

“Going forward’’, Mr. Abubakar said, warfare in the Nigerian Air Force would be dictated by advancement in technology and appropriate manpower development.

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