By Christel Odili
As part of plans to tackle the incessant herdsmen-farmers clash in the country, the Chief of the Air Staff (CAS), Air Marshal Sadique Abubakar,
has disclosed plans by the Nigerian Air Force (NAF) to establish Quick Response Wing in Lafia and others settlements.
Abubakar, made the disclosure as he led a delegation of Senior Officers from the Headquarters Nigerian Air Force (NAF) on a one-day working visit to the Governor of Nasarawa State in Lafia yesterday.
A statement signed by NAF’s spokesman, Air Vice Marshal Olatokunbo Adesanya, disclosed that a careful threat analysis conducted by the NAF revealed that parts of the State, especially the Benue-Nasarawa axis, was prone to crisis, which NAF presence could help reduce and hence, the decision to establish QRWs in Nasarawa State.
According to him, “the NAF had already established 10 new units in the last 2 years with the aim of enabling the NAF to add value to the Internal Security situation in various parts of the country. One of such new establishments, is the Headquarters Special Operations Command, which would also have oversight functions over the QRWs in Nasarawa State”. He equally restated the NAF’s commitment to establishing a Forward Operational Base in Taraba State, as part of its overall commitment to creating an environment where Nigerians would be able to transact their businesses peacefully.
Air Marshal Abubakar assured the Governor of the immediate take-off of the NAF Unit in Lafia, adding that NAF Special Forces, who were at the verge of completing their training, would form the first set of personnel to man the new Unit.
The CAS therefore solicited the support of the State Government in ensuring the smooth take-off of the QRW, particularly by allocating the required lands for the planned infrastructural development.
In his response, Governor Tanko Al-Makura remarked that the State had been longing to receive Air Marshal Abubakar because of his apparent sense of patriotism, commitment and dedicated efforts towards Nigeria’s development.
The Governor noted that the CAS had transformed the NAF through capacity building initiatives and had added so much value beyond what the NAF was known for.
Speaking further, the Governor commended the role played by the NAF in decimating the capability of the Boko Haram terrorists in the Northeast, noting that the presence of the NAF had become synonymous with resolution of security challenges.
He observed that there couldn’t have been a better time for the NAF to establish its presence in Nasarawa State. He therefore expressed confidence in the ability of the NAF to add value to security and peace in Nasarawa State.
It would be recalled that the CAS recently announced the intention of the NAF to establish additional units to tackle the herdsmen-farmers crisis in some affected states.