By
Olukayode Michael
In furtherance of its efforts to ensure combat readiness for effective response
to security threats to Nigeria’s Airports and other critical national assets,
the Nigerian Air Force (NAF), on Thursday conducted a Counter Terrorism Simulation
Exercise at Mallam Aminu Kano International Airport (MAKIA), Kano.
The Exercise, codenamed ‘Exercise STEEL DOME 2’, was organised in collaboration with other security agencies at the Airport and entailed insertion and extraction of NAF Special Forces (The Panthers) within the terminal buildings to retake the Airport from terrorists. The Exercise, which would be replicated in other major airports across the country, had earlier been conducted at the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport, Abuja and Murtala Muhammed International Airport in Lagos in 2016.
The
simulation exercise is coming barely three days after the successful conduct of
another CT Exercise, code named ‘EXERCISE NA ZO’, along Kaduna-Birnin Gwari
Road.
Speaking during the Airport Security Simulation Exercise (ASEX), the Guest of
Honour (GOH), the Executive Governor of Kano State, Dr Abdullahi Umar Ganduje,
disclosed that he was very impressed by the performance, zeal and foresight of
the current leadership of the NAF in steering the Service towards fulfilling
its mandate of protecting the territorial integrity of a united Nigeria.
According to him, without any doubt, the NAF had been consistent in demonstrating the capacity to effectively and efficiently bring to bear, its combat capability to decisively deal with terrorism and banditry activities within the country and entire sub-region. Governor Ganduje noted that Kano State had continued to enjoy immense support from the NAF as well as other security agencies, which had resulted in the emergence of Kano as one of the most peaceful States in the North.
The Governor particularly appreciated the NAF for the Intelligence, Surveillance and Reconnaissance (ISR) missions and other air operations conducted over the Falgore Forest to deny armed bandits and other criminal elements the use of the place as a safe haven. He pledged that the Kano State Government would continue to build on the existing synergy with the NAF and other security agencies to sustain the relative peace and tranquility enjoyed in the State.
While congratulating the Chief of the Air Staff (CAS), Air Marshal Sadique Abubakar, and his team for what he described as the “well-planned, well-coordinated and effectively executed Exercise”, Governor Ganduje lauded the innovativeness of the CAS and enjoined him to continue to build on the gains so far recorded in order to continue discharging NAF’s constitutional responsibilities creditably. He further disclosed that the State Government, on its part, had provided scanners and CCTV cameras to enhance the security of the Airport and, with these in place, had also persuaded Emirates Airlines to commence operations from MAKIA in the coming weeks.
In his opening remarks, the CAS stated that Exercise STEEL DOME 2 was aimed at testing the combat readiness of the NAF, as well as its collaboration with other airport security stakeholders, to achieve the synergy required to jointly counter terrorist attacks at the airports. He disclosed that the exercise was initially planned to hold in Port Harcourt but had to be rescheduled for Kano because of the ongoing renovation work at the Port Harcourt International Airport. He also revealed that an ASEX was being planned for the Airport at Uyo, Akwa Ibom State. According to him, the conduct of Exercise STEEL DOME 2 and other CT exercises was demonstrative of the NAF’s unflinching resolve, as a fighting force, to collaborate with sister services and other security agencies to purge the country of the menace of terrorism and insurgency.
“I
believe that sustaining the exercises across other major airports and other
trouble spots in the country on a regular basis, would constantly put security
personnel and other stakeholders in good stead to effectively counter terrorism
and other security threats. To this end, the NAF is motivated to conduct more
of these operational exercises in other selected parts of the country in the
nearest future. This is more so, considering that our dear nation is currently
experiencing a myriad of security challenges, which require us, as a fighting
force, to be on top of the situation in order to ensure security of our people
and our country”, he said.
Speaking further, the CAS disclosed that the NAF was not unmindful of the
sacrifices made by personnel in continuously tackling security challenges, some
of whom, he noted, had paid the supreme price. He assured that their
sacrifices would not be in vain and the NAF would continue to forge ahead until
every part of the country was safe and secured. The exercise, he said, would
further boost the confidence of passengers and staff working within the airport
environment. Air Marshal Abubakar therefore expressed his profound gratitude to
the Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces, President Muhammadu Buhari, for
making tackling insecurity in the Country one of the cardinal points of his
agenda as well as for providing the requisite resources for the NAF to
effectively conduct its operations. He also expressed gratitude to the
Executive Governor of Kano State and the Honourable Minister of Defence as well
as the Chief of Defence Staff for their support towards the successful conduct
of the exercise. While appreciating the goodwill of other participating
security agencies and staff of MAKIA as well as the air passengers during the
conduct of the exercise, the CAS used the opportunity to reassure all Nigerians
that the NAF remains fully committed to the successful execution of its
constitutional roles and would continue to meet its statutory responsibility of
defending the territorial integrity of the Nation, whether acting singly or in
concert with sister Services and other security agencies.
In his welcome address, the Chief of Training and Operations, Air Vice Marshal
Oladayo Amao, noted that Exercise STEEL DOME 2, which was the third ASEX
conducted by the NAF, was conceived by the CAS to improve the CT posture of the
Service to effectively respond to any security threat within the airport
environment. He added that the conduct of the exercise was driven by the need
to reduce the vulnerabilities of airports in Nigeria and was a culmination of
several weeks of training by “The Panthers” and other personnel to showcase the
capability of the NAF in dealing with terror threat to the Airport.
The event also featured the conduct of operational briefing and giving of
orders by the Exercise Team Leader, the Commander 013 Quick Response Group (013
QRG) Minna, Group Captain Caleb Olayera, along with his sub-unit and component
commanders, which was held behind closed doors. This was followed by the
execution of the operational plan, which featured airfield defence and force
protection measures executed by a combination of ground-based blocking forces
and Mobile Air Defence Teams (MADT) as well as an attack helicopter; insertion,
by rappelling and tactical drop-off of NAF Panthers and K-9 elements; movement
of teams into the terminal building as well as subsequent rescue of hostages,
arrest of the suspected terrorists, extraction of the assault teams by road and
evacuation of casualties as well as detection and diffusion of Improvised
Explosive Devices (IED) by NAF K-9 and Nigeria Police Force Explosive Ordinance
Detonation (EOD) Unit.
