The Nigerian Air Force says the war against the Boko Haram terrorist group in the north-east is not over yet, just as it has pledged its commitment to sustaining the counter-terrorism operations in the region.
The Chief of Standard and Evaluation, Nigerian Air Force and immediate past Air Officer Commanding (AOC) Training Command of the Nigerian Air Force, Kaduna, Air Vice Marshal Salihu Bala-Riba said this on Friday in Kaduna, north west Nigeria.
Air Vice Marshal Bala-Riba said the statement was based on the chances that the insurgents would want to prove that the incoming administration of General Muhammadu Buhari could not do any better than the outgoing government in the fight against insurgency.
He made the comment while handing over to Air Vice Marshal Alkali Mamu, who is the new Air Officer Commanding (AOC), Training Command, Nigerian Air Force, Kaduna.
While expressing delight over the President-Elect’s statement that Boko Haram will soon see the collective will of all Nigerians, he reminded officers and men of the Armed Forces that they were the arrow-head of that collective will.
He, therefore, urged the officers not to relax and cautioned them against allowing their units and barracks fall into the hands of insurgents, as the service would not condone any act of negligence.
On his part, the new AOC, AVM Mamu commended the outgoing AOC for his support in the counter insurgency operations in the north-east, especially in the area of training of pilots.
He gave the assurance that he would build on the achievements of his predecessor in order to take the Air Force to greater heights.
