‘What Air chief didn’t promise on Boko Haram’
Chief of the Air Staff (CAS), Air Marshal Sadique Abubakar, never promised that it will end the war on Boko Haram by the end of 2020.
NAF’s Director of Public Relations and Information, Air Commodore Ibikunle Daramola, made the denial in a statement on Sunday in Abuja.
Daramola was reacting to publications in some media insinuating that Abubakar, during a recent operational visit to Maiduguri in Borno State promised that the air force would the finish the war on Boko Haram by the end of the 2020.
“The attention of the Nigerian Air Force (NAF) has been drawn to publications in some media insinuating that the Chief of the Air Staff (CAS), Air Marshal Sadique Abubakar, during a recent operational visit to the headquarters of the Air Task Force (ATF) of ‘Operation LAFIYA DOLE’ in Maiduguri on July 4 promised that the NAF would end the war on Boko Haram by the end of the Year 2020.
“The NAF wishes to state that the above attributed statement is not a true reflection of what the chief of air staff actually said and therefore, constitutes a misrepresentation, hence the need for this clarification.
“For the benefit of the general public, it must be noted that the chief of air staff in saying that very soon, at least before the end of the year, we should be rounding up this operation or latest by the end of this year.
“So, work towards that and be rest assured that the Nigerian Air Force will support you never suggested that the Air Task Force (ATF) would single-handedly end the war on Boko Haram.
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“Instead, the chief of air staff was setting a target for the Air Task Force (ATF) to encourage and spur it on to focus all its energy and resources towards achievement.
“This is typical of visionary leadership which sets goals for its subordinates in order to inspire a redoubling of efforts.
“It is expected that with this new charge, the Air Task Force (ATF) working in synergy with sister services and other security agencies, will work even more assiduously towards ensuring victory.
“Accordingly, the general public is please requested to discountenance these reports, as the foregoing is the true representation of the chief of air staff statement,” Daramola said.
