The Chief of the Air Staff, Air Marshal Oladayo Amao, has directed Nigerian Air Force Operational Commanders in various operation theatres across the country to show no mercy to terrorists.
He also ordered them to ensure they employ maximum firepower against terrorists posing security threats in the country, urging them to effectively allocate and utilise all NAF platforms deployed for operations in the North-West and North-Central for enhanced operational effectiveness.
These, according to him, would deny the terrorists freedom of movement while boosting the populace’s confidence on the Service.
The Air Chief was quoted to have stated these in a statement on Wednesday by the Director of Public Relations and Information, Air Commodore Edward Gabkwet, during a visit to Air Officers Commanding and Air Component Commanders at the NAF Base in Kaduna on Tuesday.
The statement partly read, “Though the security environment remains fluid and uncertain with terrorists moving between the northeast, northwest and north central, the need to continually modify NAF’s air power strategies to stay ahead of the asymmetric and unconventional nature of terrorists’ activities is of paramount importance.
“We have a responsibility to secure our nation and give our citizens a sense of hope, trust, and belonging. Therefore, we must ensure that we stay ahead of the enemy and envisage his next line of action.
“I urge you to show no mercy against any terrorist and their accomplices while denying them the freedom of movement and ease to cause mayhem against innocent Nigerians. ”
Amao, however, said efforts were at an advanced stage to procure more combat platforms for the service to meet the ever-increasing demands of air assets in various theatres of operations across the nation.
He assured that training more combat pilots, imagery analysts, and other specialties in the service would continue to be his priority so as to address the manpower challenges within the operation areas.
