Minister of Defence, Mohammed Badaru Abubakar, on Friday urged the Nigerian Air Force (NAF) to intensify efforts to dominate the airspace and contribute to ending insecurity in Nigeria, particularly in the North-West region.
During a visit to the Headquarters 213 Forward Operating Base (FOB) in Katsina State, the Minister stated: “We are deploying additional platforms, including attack helicopters and drones, to enhance your capabilities and eliminate bandits and terrorists.”
According to a statement by Ministry of Defence Director of Information and Public Relations, Henshaw Ogubike, the Minister reassured the troops of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s commitment to ending insecurity, saying: “Mr. President is pleased with your progress and will provide necessary equipment and support your welfare.”
On time line of ending insecurity, the Minister said: “End it now, please. End insecurity now.”
Earlier, the Minister also addressed senior officers, officers and men of at FOB Zurmi and Gurbi Baure where he commended them for the renewed vigour to eradicate insecurity in the region.
“I have seen you, you are all charged. And the progress we are recording so far indicates that you have the capacity and the will to end it. So we come to thank you for the efforts so far,” Badaru stated.
He said that with your commitments in the last few months, there have been progress every day and I believe insecurity will end as quickly as possible.
He also commended the two States; Zamfara and Katsina for supporting federal government in the fight against insecurity in the region.
“Well, I believe all the states are cooperating. Early this week, we had meeting with the two governors of Katsina and Zamfara, as well as the National Security Adviser, all in an effort to strategize on how to end the insecurity in these states and the Northwest. And I believe that with the new command we are reassured that insecurity will soon end particularly with the support from the public,” he stated.