PARIS, JUNE 4, 2016: THE Nigerian Air Force said
on Friday that it has deployed additional fighter jets,
helicopter gunships to join the ''Operation Pulo
Shield'' in Nigeria's Niger Delta region.
on Friday that it has deployed additional fighter jets,
helicopter gunships to join the ''Operation Pulo
Shield'' in Nigeria's Niger Delta region.
This is to curtail what it described as militancy,
economic sabotage and other forms of criminality
in the embattled region.
The disclosure was made by the Nigerian Air Force
Director of Public Relations, Capt. Ayodele
Famuyiwa in a statement made available to
journalists on Friday in Abuja. The aim , he said , is
to guard critical infrastructures in the region.
This deployment was made to support ground
forces already in the area with a view to halting
attacks on oil installations by the Niger Delta
Avengers.
The air operations will be covering four states
namely Delta, Akwa Ibom, Bayelsa, Rivers, Ondo
States. Additional deployments would be made if
considered absolutely necessary, he said
His words: “The Nigerian Air Force has deployed
additional aircraft to the Niger Delta in support of
the military operations code named “OPERATION
PULO SHIELD” against militancy, economic
sabotage and all forms of criminalities in the South-
South region of the Country.
“The deployment was necessitated by the recent
spate of attacks on the Nation’s oil and gas
installations by the new militant group, Niger Delta
Avengers.
“The additional platforms, comprising fighter
aircraft, helicopter gunship, and surveillance aircraft,
are intended to enhance the capability of the NAF
to undertake offensive air operations and
intelligence gathering in support of the surfaces
forces. Since the recent deployment, the NAF has
increased air operations around critical
infrastructure in Delta, Bayelsa, Rivers and Akwa
Ibom States.
“These include but not limited to Escravos,
Forcados in Delta State; Bonga oil field, Agbami
offshore and Brass in Bayelsa; Bony in Rivers; Qua
Iboe Terminal in Akwa Ibom State, and Opuekeba in
Ondo State.”
Recall the Niger Delta Avengers had earlier warned
that it would launch missiles which are capable of
bringing down any military aircraft. Hence, many
see the successful military campaign in the region
by the Nigerian military in the lap of the gods.
