NAF in counter-terrorism exercise at Abuja airport

The Nigerian Air Force yesterday conducted a counter-terrorism simulation exercise at the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport, Abuja.

The exercise involved special forces and bomb disposal experts as well as a regimental force with a Super Puma military Helicopter dropping airborne snipers.

Chief of Air Staff, Air Marshal Sadiq Abubakar told newsmen that the exercise which also involved the Army, Navy, NSA office and NEMA among others was to prepare the NAF special forces against the eventuality of terrorist attacks on the nation’s airports in the future.

His words:
“This exercise is very significant because the regiment forces, quick response forces, are participating in this exercise. They were trained by the Nigerian Air Force using taxpayers money.

“What we want is to have a force that is actually going to be effective in the event of any problem in our airports. You can have all the training, you can have all the skills. Unless you are tested from time to time, you will not be able to know whether there will be gaps.

“The whole essence of this exercise is to ensure that there are no gaps. And you also need to have the cooperation of the other agencies, coordinating with other agencies. It must be evaluated from time to time to know whether there will be problems in real situations.

“I want to appreciate the Airport authorities, I want to appreciate all the other agencies of government, the Army is represented here, the Navy is here with us, the National Security Adviser’s office, is also here with us. The other security agencies, Immigration Customs, FAAN, everybody is involved to ensure that we are able to deal with these situations if they arise.

“I think that is the significance and I am very happy that we have been able to test the plans we have been having for this airport and whatever gaps there are, we will be able to quickly go back and debrief and see where there are areas of difficulties.

“Certainly, we are starting with Nnamdi Azikiwe, we are going Lagos,we are going to Port Harcourt, we are going to Kano, and we have enough special forces to undertake this type of operation in any airport in any part of the country."