CDS attributes rescue of NAF fighter pilot to engagement of stakeholders

The Chief of Defence Staff (CDS), General Lucky Irabor has attributed, in part, the rescue and safe return of the Nigerian Air Force (NAF) fighter pilot that was involved in an air crash on Sunday, 18 July 2021, after embarking on a successful air interdiction mission against banditry between Zamfara and Kaduna states boundaries, to the ongoing CDS’ Interactive session with retired senior military officers across the country.

According to a statement by the Deputy Director Defence Information, Defence Headquarters, Air Commodore
WAP Maigida, the CDS made the disclosure at the second edition of security parley, tagged “Chief of Defence Staff Interaction with Retired Senior Military Officers in Northwest Geopolitical Zone,” held on Monday, 19 July 2021, at the 1 Division, Nigerian Army Officers’ Mess in Kaduna.

According to Gen Irabor, “the necessity of this gathering today which is of course to engage with you (military veterans), and by extension the larger society is partly what is responsible for the safe return of our cherished pilot. We believe that going forward, greater gains will be made as we undertake this operational task.”

The CDS further disclosed that the Armed Forces of Nigeria (AFN) was constantly reviewing its techniques, tactics and procedures as well as operational doctrines to be in tandem with the requirements for the containment of the security threats.

Gen. Irabor appealed to the senior citizens to show the same level of commitment and patriotic zeal which they exhibited while in military service and to be in-depth as well as forthright during the interactive session.

He pointed out that the retirees were part of members of the Armed Forces and security agencies, noting that they must play critical roles in national security as relevant stakeholders.

He said further, “from our (AFN) assessment of all the stakeholders within our environment and nation, there is no other people that is better placed to understand the nuances of not just the security threats, but of course, the containment measures than you (military retirees).”

He stated that the full spectrum of issues were better understood by the retired senior officers, due to their experiences in the service and interactions with civilian populace.

In his remarks, the Chief of Defence Civil Military Cooperation (CDCMIC), Rear Admiral Fredrick Ogu, disclosed that the informed recommendations by the participants would further aid the AFN in tackling the array of security issues in their domains.

The CDCMIC, who lamented that the Northwest was becoming a safe haven for terrorist groups, highlighted the current security challenges in the region to include attacks on local communities, kidnapping, abductions, banditry and sundry crimes.

He disclosed that the CDS’ interaction with the retired senior military officers in the Southwest was the maiden edition held in Ibadan, the Oyo state capital, last month.

According to him, a lot of security issues in the zone were x-rayed during the security parley.