The Nigerian Air Force (NAF) has deployed additional aircraft to the Niger Delta region towards supporting the military operations code named 'Operation Pulo Shield' against militancy, economic sabotage and all forms of criminalities in the south-southern part of the country.
According to the Director of Public Relations & Information (NAF), Group Captain Ayodele Famuyiwa, the deployment was necessitated by the recent spate of attacks on the Nigeria's oil and gas installations by the new militant group, Niger Delta Avengers (NDA).
Famuyiwa disclosed that the additional platforms, comprising fighter aircraft, helicopter gunship, and surveillance aircraft, are intended to enhance the capability of the NAF to undertake offensive air operations and intelligence gathering in support of the land forces.
He added that since the recent deployment, NAF has increased air operations around critical infrastructure in Delta, Bayelsa, Rivers and Akwa Ibom states, which include Escravos, Forcados (Delta), Bonga oil field, Agbami offshore and Brass (Bayelsa), Bony (Rivers), Qua Iboe Terminal (Akwa Ibom) and Opuekeba (Ondo) among others.
"Meanwhile, NAF wishes to urge members of the public not to panic at the sight of low-level flying aircraft but to go about their legitimate businesses.
"NAF also enjoins any member of the public to avail it or other security agencies with useful information about the militant group's whereabouts or their activities."
