Air Marshal Sadique Abubakar, Chief of Air Staff
As part of its continued efforts geared towards developing the capacity of its personnel to combat terrorism and secure lives and properties of Nigerians, the Nigerian Air Force, NAF on Monday conducted a Counter Terrorism Simulation Exercise along Kaduna-Birnin Gwari Road.
The Exercise, code named “EXERCISE NA ZO”, was aimed at testing NAF operational doctrine and tactics for effective CT operations as well as evaluating the synergy between air and surface forces in a complex air-ground operational environment.
The CT Exercise, according to Ibikunle Daramola Air Commodore, Director of Public Relations and Information, in a statement, involved NAF Intelligence, Surveillance and Reconnaissance platforms as well as attack aircraft along with NAF Special Forces and Canine Teams, who were practiced on their individual and group skills in the planning, coordination and execution of CT operations.
Speaking during the Exercise, the Chief of Defence Staff (CDS), General Abayomi Olonisakin, highlighted the critical importance of training and exercises to a fighting force, like the NAF, towards ensuring greater success in combat operations.
According to him, “even more important is the fact that an event of this nature is being organized at a time the NAF and its sister Services are engaged in counterinsurgency COIN operations in the Northeastern part of Nigeria as well as Anti-banditry in the North West and North Central.”
The CDS seized the opportunity to express his profound appreciation to the Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces of Nigeria (C-in-C), President Muhammadu Buhari, for his continued support to the Armed Forces of Nigeria (AFN) in general and the NAF in particular.
While congratulating the Chief of the Air Staff (CAS), Air Marshal Sadique Abubakar, and his team for the well-conceived and timely exercise, the CDS expressed optimism that the underlying lessons of the event would go a long way in resolving the current security challenges in the Country.
In his remarks, the CAS expressed his delight to have the CDS physically present to witness the first ever CTEX conducted by the NAF. He noted that the Exercise was deliberately conceptualized to practice NAF air and ground elements in order to engender a better understanding of the nuances of air-ground integration as well as other critical elements of CT operations. He disclosed that the Service would conduct a number of such exercises between October 2019 and January 2020 with a view to identifying and tackling problems associated with air-ground integration as well as highlighting the crucial role of joint planning and coordination to the success of operations.
Air Marshal Abubakar noted that, similar to EXERCISE NA ZO, the forthcoming exercises would practice NAF Flying Units; Regiment and Special Forces Teams; Air Provost and K-9 Units as well as Intelligence and other elements, such as Medical, to enhance coordination and improve decision-making of commanders in order to ensure mission accomplishment in virtually every encounter.
In his welcome address, the Air Officer Commanding Special Operations Command (AOC SOC), Air Vice Marshal James Gwani, said the CTEX was in consonance with the CAS’ Vision to “reposition the NAF into a highly professional and disciplined force through capacity building initiatives for effective, efficient and timely employment of air power in response to Nigeria’s national security imperatives”.
