The Director of Public Relations and Information of the NAF, Capt. Ayodele Famuyiwa, said in a statement on Friday that the additional platforms were deployed to protect critical infrastructure in the region.
He said the deployed aircraft included fighter aircraft, helicopter gunships and surveillance aircraft intended to aid the NAF’s offensive and surveillance operation in support of surface forces.
He said that the deployments were necessitated by the ongoing attacks on oil installations by the Niger Delta Avengers.
Famuyiwa said the NAF had increased air operations around critical infrastructure in Delta, Bayelsa, Rivers and Akwa Ibom States, prior to the additional deployments.
He said, “The Nigerian Air Force has deployed additional aircraft to the Niger Delta in support of the military operations code named “OPERATION PULO SHIELD” against militancy, economic sabotage and all forms of criminalities in the South-South region of the Country.
“The deployment was necessitated by the recent spate of attacks on the Nation’s oil and gas installations by the new militant group, Niger Delta Avengers.
“The additional platforms, comprising fighter aircraft, helicopter gunship and surveillance aircraft, are intended to enhance the capability of the NAF to undertake offensive air operations and intelligence gathering in support of the surfaces forces. Since the recent deployment, the NAF has increased air operations around critical infrastructure in Delta, Bayelsa, Rivers and Akwa Ibom States.
“These include but not limited to Escravos, Forcados in Delta State; Bonga oil field, Agbami offshore and Brass in Bayelsa; Bony in Rivers; Qua Iboe Terminal in Akwa Ibom State, and Opuekeba in Ondo State.”
He urged members of the public to go about their normal duties and not to panic at the sight of low level flying aircraft in the area.
He also called on the public to give useful information to the security operatives that could be relied upon to stop the activities of the militant group.
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