The Nigerian Army has stepped up its security presence in Plateau State with the establishment of new formations and units in conflict-prone areas, even as the Chief of Army Staff, Lt.-Gen. Waidi Shaibu, ordered the deployment of an additional battalion to the state.
Shaibu disclosed this yesterday in Jos when he received the Plateau State Deputy Governor, Mrs Ngo Josephine Piyo, who paid him a courtesy visit.
The new Army formations include the 24 Armour Brigade in Langtang and its component units in Mangu, Wase and Shendam.
The Army chief said the additional deployment was part of measures to strengthen security operations and improve the military’s response to threats in affected areas of the state.
The development came as the Nigerian Air Force, NAF, announced the acquisition of five new helicopters to boost its operations against terrorists, kidnappers and bandits across the country.
The NAF Director of Public Relations and Information, Air Commodore Ehimen Ejodame, said the platforms comprised three AW-109 Trekker B helicopters manufactured by Leonardo Helicopters of Italy and two H-125 helicopters produced by Airbus Helicopters.
According to him, the three AW-109 Trekker B helicopters, which are part of 10 recently acquired by the Federal Government, were received in Lagos, while the two H-125 helicopters had been delivered earlier.
Ejodame said the remaining seven helicopters were expected to be delivered before the end of the year.
The Chief of the Air Staff, Air Marshal Sunday Aneke, described the acquisition as a significant milestone in the Federal Government’s investment in the modernisation and re-equipment of the NAF.
Aneke said the new platforms would increase aircraft availability and improve the service’s responsiveness across multiple theatres of operation.
He said the helicopters would also provide greater flexibility in the deployment of airpower in support of ground troops involved in ongoing operations.
According to him, the AW-109 Trekker B helicopters would enhance the NAF’s capabilities in intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance, close air support, armed escort and combat search and rescue, among other joint operations.
He added that the H-125 helicopters would provide versatile light helicopter support for a range of operational requirements.
Aneke commended President Bola Tinubu for his support for the transformation and modernisation of the Air Force.
He said the President’s commitment was enabling the service to progressively develop the capabilities required to meet its operational responsibilities and respond to the country’s evolving security challenges.
The CAS further said the NAF would continue to prioritise effective aircraft utilisation, maintenance and logistics sustainment to ensure that every platform delivered contributes to ongoing operations and the protection of lives and property.
He added that the increased rotary-wing capacity would strengthen support for joint forces conducting counter-terrorism, anti-kidnapping and anti-banditry operations.
Meanwhile, the NAF said the newly delivered helicopters were undergoing post-delivery assembly, technical checks and crew-readiness procedures ahead of their formal induction and deployment for operational duties.
