Air Force assures residents of adequate security

The Nigerian Air force (NAF), has assured the people of Benue State of adequate protection of their lives and properties.

This is contained in a statement signed by Air Commodore Dele Alonge, Director of Public Relations and Information, NAF and made available to newsmen on Tuesday in Abuja .

"NAF wishes to assure the good people of Benue State of adequate protection of their lives and property," the statement said.

It noted that Nigerian Air Force had over the years maintained the reputation of being a responsible organisation that had discharged its constitutional mandate of protecting the territorial integrity of Nigeria.

It added that the NAF also had a constitutional mandate to secure the nation's airspace, including the lives and property of the citizenry.

Quoting from intelligence reports, the statement said that due to fierce attack on them, Boko Haram insurgents were in disarray and looking for soft targets to strike especially military installations.

"Thus, the NAF has a responsibility to secure its perimeter fence to forestall any pre-emptive attack within and around the Air Force Base in Makurdi," the statement said.

It added that it was with the intention to fortify the Base that the Air Force recently carried out cordon and search operation within its area of responsibility.

The statement said that in the course of carrying out the search, there was no destruction of houses or displacement of persons as reported by some media houses.

"We wish to state unequivocally that the Nigerian Air Force is a humane, sensitive and rational organisation that does not trample on the rights of law abiding citizens."

The statement advised the people of the state to go about their normal business without fear of intimidation.