ABUJA - Following the directive by President Goodluck Jonathan to the Armed Forces to commence the deployment of 900 troops to participate in the military operation to liberate Mali from Islamist rebels, the Nigerian Air Force, yesterday, commenced moves to deploy two of its fighter aircraft and a transport aircraft for the combat operations.
The aircraft are the F7 supersonic jet fighter, the latest and most modern in the NAF inventory, and the Alpha jet fighter aircraft aka 'Dudu Bird' which fast tracked thesurrender of the rebels in both the Liberian and Sierra Leonean civil wars. This came as Senate, yesterday, approved the deployment of 1,200 Nigerian troops to join French forces that are currently staging an onslaught against the Islamist militia in Mali.
Similarly, Chief of Army Staff, COAS, General Azubuike Ihejirika, yesterday, explained why Nigeria is a formidable part of the planned war against Islamic rebels in Northern Mali, saying it was to clean Mali of training camps where Islamic terrorists are trained to attack Nigeria.
Meanwhile, the Federal Government, yesterday, briefed ambassadors from European Union, EU, Canada and United States on the situation in Mali. The COAS spoke in Kaduna State while fielding questions from reporters after his farewell speechto the 906 troops at the Nigerian Army Cantonment, Jaji, Kaduna.
Meanwhile, confirming the deployments of two aircraft, yesterday, Director of Air Force Public Relations, Air Commodore Yusuf Anas, said already, a contingent of 66 officers and airmen departed Port Harcourt, Rivers State for Mali, yesterday.
He said the officers and men wereferried by the Air Force G222 Transport Aircraft, and were addressed by the Chief of Air Staff,Air Marshal Alex Badeh, who admonished them to be good ambassadors of Nigeria . At press time, the fighter jets, Alpha Jet and F7 Supersonic, wereon their way to join French fighterjets already in Mali.
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