BY VICTOR BUORO, ABUJA – The Nigerian Air Force (NAF) is upbeat about their well trained and adequately equipped Women-of-War who are proving their combat readiness and mettle in complementing troops’ efforts at counter-insurgency campaigns and crisis management across the country.
Currently, the airwomen and female air officers are exhibiting professional gallantry in fighting Boko Haram terrorists in the insurgency-ravaged North East and Armed Banditry in the North-West.
Competent sources told PRNigeria that the NAF female personnel, alongside their male counterparts, have continued to participate in several air raid and special tactical operations targeted at hide-outs of armed bandits and insurgents’ camps in some dreaded forests, including Sambisa.
Confirming the airwomen and officers’ combat prowess and readiness, a military intelligence officer in the North-East hinted that the female military personnel are currently actively involved in the counter-insurgency operations with special forces against Boko Haram terrorists.
“The women of war have continued to showcase their professional capacity as fearless and courageous military personnel. You can see some of them as fighter pilots, loadmasters, aircraft maintenance engineers, aerospace engineers, armament specialists, squad leaders, combatants, military police, and air traffic controllers, among others.
“They help tremendously in neutralizing insurgents during air strike missions, while also providing tactical supports for the ground troops”, the officer said
Further amplifying these exploits, Spokesperson of the Nigerian Airforce, Air Commodore Ibikunle Daramola said men and women in military operations are trained to engage in combat support operations for peace, security and national development.
“The Chief of Air Staff (CAS), Air Marshal Sadique Abubakar has ensured that NAF is a gender-sensitive service that encourages its personnel to explore their potentials without inhibition in the Armed Forces.
“AS a gender friendly service, it has continually strived to provide equal opportunity for both male and female personnel in training and military operations so that they can strive to achieve excellence in their career.
“There have been significant improvements in trainings, recruitments and deployments of female personnel as pilots, combatants, technicians and engineers who work on the field and at the frontlines”, he said
In appreciation of their patriotic efforts, the Nigerian Air Force (NAF) recently decorated outstanding female fighter pilot, Flying Officer Kafayat Sanni, and female combat helicopter pilot, Flying Officer Tolulope Arotile, with their pilot wings after successful completion of their flying training courses in the United States of America and South-Africa respectively.
Similarly, NAF also used the occasion to decorate the first female Air Warrant Officer (AWO) in the Nigerian Armed Forces, Grace Garba, with her new rank. AWO Garba was promoted to the highest rank in the Non-Commissioned Officers’ cadre for her exceptional hard work and contributions to the Service over the years.
