The Nigerian Air Force (NAF) has deployed to Senegal as part of Nigerian
contingent of Economic Community of West African States Military
Intervention in Gambia (ECOMIG) – a standby force tasked by ECOWAS Heads
of State to enforce the December 1, 2016 election mandate in the The
Gambia. The NAF today moved a contingent of 200 men and air assets
comprising fighter jets, transport aircraft, Light Utility Helicopter as
well as Intelligence, Surveillance and Reconnaissance aircraft to Dakar
from where it is expected to operate into Gambia. The deployment is
also to forestall hostilities or breakdown of law and order that may
result from the current political impasse in The Gambia.
Addressing
the contingent before departure, the Chief of the Air Staff, Air
Marshal Sadique Baba Abubakar urged the troops to maintain discipline
and be professional in their conduct. Reminding them to be good
ambassadors of Nigeria, the CAS stated that no act of indiscipline by
the contingent would be tolerated. The contingent, led by Air Cdre
Tajudeen Yusuf, was airlifted this morning from 117 Air Combat Training
Group Kainji. Other troop contributing countries include Senegal, Ghana
and countries within the sub-region.
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