News
NAF increases feeding fees, introduces accident policy for personnel
The Nigerian Air Force has taken a significant step toward improving the well-being of its students by increasing the feeding fees in its schools from N500 to N1,500 per meal.
This move, announced by the Chief of Air Staff, Air Marshal Abubakar Hasan, on Saturday, aims to ensure that children in NAF schools are well-fed and healthy enough to learn and grow into strong and mentally healthy individuals.
NAF Secretary, AVM Ahmed Bakari, confirmed this on Saturday during the CAS parley with veterans held at Logistics Command, NAF, Lagos State.
He explained that the CAS had graciously increased the feeding fees.
“He has also announced that priority would now be given to personnel and veterans before considering civilians for admission into Air Force schools.
“Some of us have been complaining that we have a lot of civilians in our schools but henceforth, priority is to personnel and veterans first, before considering others,” Bakari said.
In addition to the increased feeding fees, NAF has also introduced an accident policy to cater to injured personnel in service.
According to Bakari, the policy has already disbursed its first tranche, with some personnel receiving up to N5 million benefits for injuries.
“Though, we know that this may not be totally sufficient but what is being sought is to see that they don’t suffer unnecessarily when injured.
“At least, some form of succour comes immediately as an intervention from the service to any personnel who sustains an injury while in service,” he said.
Bakari said NAF had also overhauled its airfields, ensuring that some of them now have modern equipment that would make flying possible 24 hours a day.
For instance, he said the airfield in Kaduna now has an Integrated Management System (IMS) and working runway lights.
Bakari noted: “The CAS believes we do not have any business giving excuse for a particular airfield not being operational at a particular time of the day.
“NAF has also taken delivery of 12 brand new platforms in the past 18 months, which have been injected into the war effort.
“The delivery of these platforms was made possible through the vision of the CAS and the support of President Bola Tinubu,” he said.
According to him, NAF is expected to receive an additional 50 platforms, including fighter planes, transport planes, and helicopters, from 2025 to 2026.
He added: “We are sure that with the injection of these platforms, we will see more improvement in the fight against terrorism, insurgency, banditry and all forms of criminality.”
The NAF has also embarked on predictive maintenance of its aircraft, which has begun to yield positive results.
Bakari said the creation of the Air Power Centre of Excellence, where everything about airpower would be studied, was also a significant development.
“The Air Power Centre of Excellence is supposed to be that melting pot for serving officers and retired officers and men to bring their expertise and knowledge to bear,” he said. (NAN)
The Defence Headquarters (DHQ) yesterday stated that troops of Operation Delta Safe have sustained their operational tempo against crude oil thieves and other criminals in the Niger Delta, recording significant successes in their efforts to curb illicit activities in the region.
A statement by the Director of Defence Media Operations, Major General Markus Kangye, revealed that troops recovered a substantial quantity of stolen crude oil, illegally refined AGO, and PMS, totalling 392,174 litres, 138,757 litres, and 830 litres, respectively.
He stated that the troops also discovered and destroyed 29 crude oil cooking ovens, 31 dugout pits, 48 boats, 21 storage tanks, 18 drums, and 16 illegal refining sites.
Additionally, they recovered various items, including pumping machines, drilling machines, tricycles, motorcycles, mobile phones and four vehicles.
The operation, according to General Kangye, resulted in the arrest of 11 oil thieves and other criminals, with assorted arms and ammunition, as well as dynamites, also being recovered.
In related developments, troops conducted successful offensive operations, arresting six criminals, including a suspected kidnapping kingpin, and recovering a locally made pistol and live cartridges.
The Director also stressed that troops rescued two kidnapped hostages and recovered a vehicle during counter-kidnapping and anti-criminality operations in Ndokwa West LGA of Delta State.
These successes, he said, demonstrate the effectiveness of Operation Delta Safe in combating crude oil theft and other criminal activities in the Niger Delta.
Meanwhile, troops of Operation Udo Ka foiled planned kidnapping and terrorism attacks in Anambra, Imo, and Abia states, arresting several suspects and rescuing kidnapped victims.
According to Kangye, “On 20 and 21 March 2025, troops conducted offensive operations in Igbariam Local Government Area of Anambra State and Owerri Municipal Local Government Area of Imo State, resulting in the arrest of three suspected terrorists/kidnappers and the rescue of four attempted kidnapped victims.”
He stated that troops also recovered arms and ammunition, including several Improvised Explosive Devices (IEDs) and live cartridges, as well as a vehicle and tricycle.
He said that troops arrested many extremists in Imo and Enugu states, recovering one pump-action gun, live cartridges, and some quantities of illicit drugs.
Additionally, troops rescued a kidnapped victim in Ukwa East Local Government Area of Abia State, arresting the suspects and recovering a locally made pistol and a tricycle.
Also, troops of Operation Hadin Kai recorded significant successes against ISWAP/JAS terrorists in the North-east region.
Kangye said that between 21 and 26 March 2025, scores of terrorists, including adult males, females, and children, surrendered to troops following intense military operations.
He revealed that troops also conducted offensive operations in various locations, including Konduga, Gwoza, and Bama, resulting in the neutralisation of several terrorists, the apprehension of others, and the rescue of kidnapped hostages.
Afghanistan’s Taliban government released nearly 2,500 prisoners ahead of celebrations marking the end of Ramadan, the supreme court said on Saturday, in a country where the UN has warned of a growing prison population.
The exact number of prisoners held by various security bodies in Afghanistan is unclear, but a spokesman for the Office of Prison Administration (OPA) told AFP on Saturday between 11,000 and 12,000 convicted prisoners were in the authority’s custody.
Around the same number are in detention awaiting trial, sentencing or appeal, spokesman Mohamad Nasim Lalahand added.
The supreme court said on X that “2,463 prisoners who were eligible for amnesty were released, while 3,152 others received sentence reductions” as per a decree by the Taliban supreme leader.
The release of prisoners convicted of minor crimes is common practice ahead of the Eid al-Fitr holiday, expected to start on Sunday or Monday.
Last year, Taliban authorities released around 2,800 prisoners ahead of the end of Ramadan, local media reported.
Last October, the United Nations mission to Afghanistan, UNAMA, said it was informed by the OPA that the prison population was growing, “with more detainees admitted daily than are released”.
UNAMA warned of high volumes of arrests and lengthy jail-time sentences putting “unsustainable pressure on prison facilities”.
Residents of Tsafe in Zamfara State have expressed gratitude to the Minister of State for Defence, Dr Bello Matawalle, following the successful elimination of the notorious bandit leader, Dan Isuhu.
The community hailed the development as a significant step towards restoring security in the region.
In a statement signed by its chairman, Engr Muhammad Hussaini, residents attributed the success to Dr Matawalle’s strategic directives, which have bolstered military operations against terrorist elements, including the notorious bandit kingpin, Bello Turji.
Dan Isuhu, known for orchestrating kidnappings, killings and other criminal activities, had terrorised communities across Tsafe, Funtua and Gusau for years.
He said ” His death is considered a major breakthrough in the fight against insecurity in Zamfara.
“Dr Matawalle has been instrumental in driving intensified military operations in the state, ensuring the dismantling of criminal networks and the liberation of affected communities from the grip of banditry.”
With Dan Isuhu eliminated, residents are optimistic that it is only a matter of time before Bello Turji, the most wanted terrorist in the region, is brought to justice. As military efforts continue, there is renewed hope that Zamfara will soon experience lasting peace after years of violent attacks.