By Emmanuel Nduka
The Nigerian Air Force (NAF) has earned praise for its ongoing efforts in the fight against terrorism, with the United States recognizing the NAF’s significant contributions to regional stability.
This commendation was delivered during a high-level meeting on Tuesday at the NAF Headquarters in Abuja, where a U.S. delegation, led by Jessica Long, Acting Principal Deputy Coordinator for Counterterrorism at the U.S. Department of State, met with senior NAF officials.
Long lauded the Nigerian government and military for their relentless dedication to counterterrorism. “The Nigerian military, particularly the Nigerian Air Force, has made tremendous strides in disrupting terrorist networks. Their innovative, intelligence-driven tactics are not only securing regions within Nigeria but also enhancing regional stability,” she said.
She also reiterated the United States’ continued support for the NAF’s counterterrorism initiatives and emphasized the importance of international cooperation in confronting evolving security threats.
“International collaboration, particularly in intelligence sharing and operational support, is vital for tackling the evolving nature of terrorism. The precision-driven operations adopted by the NAF are crucial to ensuring the effectiveness of their counterterrorism efforts,” a statement issued on Wednesday by Group Captain Kabiru Ali, Deputy Director of Public Relations and Information at the NAF Headquarters, quoted Long as saying.
Air Vice Marshal Ibikunle Daramola, Chief of Civil-Military Relations, expressed appreciation for the U.S. delegation’s visit and reaffirmed the NAF’s commitment to ensuring national security.
“We are deeply grateful for the ongoing partnership with the U.S. and remain steadfast in our mission to protect civilians and uphold security during our operations,” he stated. He also emphasized the importance of further cooperation in areas such as specialized training and technology transfer to strengthen the NAF’s counterterrorism capabilities.
Daramola further highlighted advancements made by the NAF Civil-Military Relations Branch, noting the importance of building community trust and minimizing collateral damage during military operations.
The meeting also focused on enhancing intelligence sharing, capacity building, and operational support to bolster the NAF’s effectiveness in combating insurgency and terrorism.
Senior NAF officials, including AVM AY Abdullahi, Director of Operations, and AVM EK Gabkwet, Director of Coordination and Cooperation, participated in the discussion.
