The Nigerian Air Force says there is no need for any fear about the forthcoming 2019 general elections.
The Chief of Air Staff, Air Marshall Sadique Baba Abubakar, said this at the Bauchi Air force Base yesterday when he commissioned a Commando Village for combat training operations.
He also said the Nigerian Air Force had established commando Villages in Kaduna and Bauchi states, and would establish two more in Ijesha, Osun State and Port Harcourt, Rivers State.
According to him, the security agencies are prepared to deal with any situation that arises to undermine the nation’s security.
“I don’t think there is need for any fear because, from what you have seen, our people are there, the Police, the Nigerian Army has launched an operation recently. So, all hands are on deck to ensure that we create an enabling environment where every Nigerian that is qualified to exercise his/her right to vote will do so without any fears.
He said 600 Special Forces Personnel have been deployed to Benue and Zamfara States to work with other security agencies to restore peace and security to troubled areas in the two states.
He said the Nigerian Air force was building its capacity to meet its operational and other needs.
“In the past, we relied totally on the Nigerian Army to protect us in the event of any attack on our Base. We are not trying to divorce our friends, the Nigerian Army, but what we are doing is to build efficient capacity to give some form of protection on our own. Where we are unable to do it or we are overwhelmed, we call the Nigerian Army to support us,” he said.
According to him, a situation where innocent Nigerians are killed and some people decide who lives and who dies is unacceptable.
“That is why the Nigerian Air Force is building the capacity of our Forces not only in rural operations which our people are doing on a daily basis,” he added.
He said some NAF Aircrafts were able to destroy Boko Haram vehicles around Sambisa forest area, adding that the NAF now had sufficient capacity to defend the bases where the aircrafts are departing.
“The average Nigerian should be able to move around without any fear because he knows he has people like you on ground. With what we have here and what you have demonstrated, no Nigerian has any reason to fear again but we are still building your capacity,” he added.
One Response