The Nigerian Air Force (NAF) has been urged to deploy heavier strikes on difficult terrains in the Lake Chad, Sambisa Forest, Timbuktu Triangle, and Mandara Mountains to flush out Boko Haram and ISWAP fighters.
Governor Babagana Umara Zulum gave the charge when he received the Chief of Air Staff (CAS), Air Marshal Hassan Bala Abubakar, in Maiduguri on Tuesday, saying the areas are challenging for ground troops to secure effectively.
“Despite NAF’s enormous contributions to peace in Borno, we still need more air power in our Area of Responsibility, especially in hard-to-reach insurgent enclaves,” Zulum said.
Governor Zulum commended the deployment of Unmanned Aerial Vehicles (UAVs) and other platforms, pledging the state government’s full support to ensure mission success.
Earlier, Air Marshal Abubakar praised Zulum’s leadership and the state’s community-driven “Borno Model” of deradicalisation and reintegration, describing it as a successful approach to addressing terrorism and humanitarian crises.
“The Disarmament, Demobilization, and Deradicalization programme, focused on healing and reconciliation rather than punishment, has improved security across Borno and the wider North East,” Abubakar said.
The CAS added that the air component of Operation Hadin Kai has intensified operations to unprecedented levels this year.