Nigeria’s Air Chief, Abubakar denies boasting Boko Haram will be defeated

Chief of Air Staff (CAS), Sadique Abubakar, has denied boasting that the Nigerian Air Force (NAF) would defeat Boko Haram by the end of 2020.

This was contained in a statement on Sunday by Ibikunle Daramola, NAF Director of Information.
The Air Commodore stressed that Abubakar’s remarks during his operational visit to the Headquarters of the Air Task Force (ATF) of Operation LAFIYA DOLE, Maiduguri, on Saturday, was misinterpreted.

He quoted the CAS as saying: “Very soon, at least before the end of the year, we should be rounding up this operation or latest by the end of this year. So work towards that and be rest assured that the Nigerian Air Force will support you”

Daramola said the comment did not suggest that the ATF would single-handedly end the war on Boko Haram.
“Instead, the CAS was setting a target for the ATF to encourage and spur it on, to focus all its energy and resources towards achievement”.

He described the remarks as part of “visionary leadership which sets goals for its subordinates in order to inspire a redoubling of efforts”.
The spokesman added that with the new charge, the ATF and other security agencies will work more assiduously towards ensuring victory.