*Says North-west haven of bandits
Kingsley Nwezeh in Abuja
The Chief of Defence Staff, Gen Lucky Irabor, Monday commended the pilot of the downed Alpha fighter jet, Flt. Lt. Abayomi Dairo, for his bravery.
He made the commendation while lamenting the rising state of insecurity in the North-west.
Irabor, who met the pilot in company of the Chief of the Air Staff, Air Marshal Oladayo Amao, before proceeding on a meeting with veterans in the North-west, praised Dairo for the gallantry and bravery he demonstrated in the fight against banditry.
A statement issued by Defence Headquarters said Irabor urged Nigerian Air Force pilots to remain steadfast in the war against banditry.
“Before proceeding for the security parley, the CDS, Gen Irabor in company of the Chief of the Air Staff, Air Marshal Oladayo Amao, met with Flight Lieutenant Abayomi Dairo, the NAF Alpha jet pilot, who survived the air crash on Sunday.
“The CDS commended the fighter pilot for his gallantry and bravery which he demonstrated in the fight against banditry. He encouraged NAF pilots to remain steadfast in the task of national security”, it said.
According to Gen Irabor, “the necessity of this gathering today which is of course to engage with you (military veterans), and by extension the larger society is partly what is responsible for the safe return of our cherished pilot. We believe that going forward, greater gains will be made as we undertake this operational task.”
Irabor, who spoke at the second edition of security parley, tagged “Chief of Defence Staff Interaction with Retired Senior Military Officers in Northwest Geopolitical Zone,” held Monday at the 1 Division, Nigerian Army Officers’ Mess in Kaduna the Armed Forces of Nigeria (AFN) was constantly reviewing its techniques, tactics and procedures as well as operational doctrines to be in tandem with the requirements for the containment of the security threats.
In his remarks, the Chief of Defence Civil Military Cooperation (CDCMIC), Rear Admiral Fredrick Ogu, disclosed that the informed recommendations by the participants would further aid the AFN in tackling the array of security issues in their domains.
Ogu, who lamented that the North-west was becoming a safe haven for terrorist groups, highlighted the current security challenges in the region to include attacks on local communities, kidnapping, abductions, banditry and sundry crimes.
