Borno State Governor, Prof. Babagana Umara Zulum, has urged the Nigerian Air Force (NAF) to deploy heavier air power to flush out Boko Haram and ISWAP fighters from difficult terrains in the Lake Chad, Sambisa Forest, Timbuktu Triangle, and Mandara Mountains.
Receiving the Chief of Air Staff (CAS), Air Marshal Hassan Bala Abubakar, in Maiduguri on Tuesday, Zulum said these areas are challenging for ground troops to secure effectively.
“Despite NAF’s enormous contributions to peace in Borno, we still need more air power in our Area of Responsibility, especially in hard-to-reach insurgent enclaves,” Zulum said.
He commended the deployment of Unmanned Aerial Vehicles (UAVs) and other platforms, pledging the state government’s full support to ensure mission success
He also commended the synergy between NAF and other security agencies in recent counterinsurgency gains.
Earlier, Air Marshal Abubakar praised Zulum’s leadership and the state’s community-driven “Borno Model” of deradicalisation and reintegration, describing it as a successful, non-kinetic approach to addressing terrorism and humanitarian crises.
“The Disarmament, Demobilization, and Deradicalization programme, focused on healing and reconciliation rather than punishment, has improved security across Borno and the wider North East,” Abubakar said.
He said the air component of Operation Hadin Kai has intensified operations to unprecedented levels this year.
DAILY TRUST.
