Insurgency: NAF trains 71 personnel in China to oversee Gombe reconnaissance group
Chima Azubuike, Gombe
Chief of Air Staff, Air Marshal Sadique Abubakar says no fewer than 71 personnel have been trained in China to equip the newly established reconnaissance group in Gombe.
Abubakar who was on operational visit, disclosed this on Tuesday, in Gombe Government House, when he visited Gov. Inuwa Yahaya, adding that aside Insurgency the group will tackle banditry in the region.
“The combat reconnaissance group is a very strategic unit for us in the air force not only in the fight against insurgency, but also in the fight against banditry and other criminal activities not only in the North East but also in North Central and North West. We are very excited we are going to have the unit activated.
“We have sent over 71 personnel to China for training, we are expecting them next week. They have been there for about 3 to 4 months including the commander of the units, who will relocate to Gombe Immediately on arrival.
“We are deploying a special forces unit, that is the tradition in the air force wherever we have assets we must have force protection elements. Some of the special forces element have been posted to Gombe they are here and we believe that we need to add more special forces personnel in view of what we want to do in Gombe, we have support personnel that will be posted to Gombe immediately,” he said.
Abubakar added that the Air Force is committed to it constitutional role of not allowing the territorial integrity of the country is to be undermined by criminals.
On his part, Governor Yahaya said the establishment of the group in the state will help to fortify the security architecture of not only the state but the entire country.
He said, “We are all aware of the current situation of not only the north east sub region, Infact the entire north, in fact the entire country is going through in terms of security challenges. Your coming will help to fortify our people, in their vocation and profession, so that they can produce more and Nigeria’s economy will be improved and the security of life and property will be guaranteed.”
He added that if adequate support is not given to the security agencies, Nigeria will not know peace in the future.
“These days if it is not the issue of banditry, it is the issue of rustling, kidnap, crisis in all ramifications. If we are not careful enough to make sure we address all these issues and curtail them from extending, Nigeria will not know peace in the future, with the young people that are around and are not well guided,” the governor stressed
