The Nigerian Air Force (NAF) assured the public it had put in place measures to avoid the injury or death of the populace during operations to rescue the schoolgirls the Boko Haram abducted in Chibok over two years ago.
The force said this in reaction to allegations by the sect the NAF had killed some of the girls, abducted in their school in the Borno State, during anti-terror strikes.
Ayodele Famuyiwa, NAF Director of Public Relations and Information, said much effort was committed to undertaking intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance (ISR) missions, both day and night, to make sure only legitimate military targets were engaged.
Famuyiwa said besides, NAF ISR platforms carried highly-sophisticated equipment on-board which were able to give pin-point accurate intelligence about target place and description.
“And where there are doubts about target status, we do not undertake strike missions,” said Famuyiwa.
“In any case, the NAF, being a professional fighting force, has not and will not engage in unprofessional practices in discharging its statutory duties.”
He thus rejected the latest video released online by the Boko Haram terrorists group alleging collateral damage.
“It is pertinent to state that the video is not only a ruse but another mischievous effort by the dying sect to draw public attention to itself,”
said Famuyiwa.
Famuyiwa thus assured Nigerians living within the vicinity of its operations, of their safety.
“The NAF wishes to use this opportunity to restate its commitment to restoration of peace in the North East and other troubled areas in the country.”
