Air Force joins Operation Python Dance, deploys air assets

THE Nigerian Air Force (NAF), on Tuesday, said it had deployed some of its air assets, including the Alpha Jet aircraft, to its 115 Special Operations Group in Port Harcourt, Rivers State, to support the ongoing Nigerian Army’s Exercise Egwu Eke II (Python Dance II).

The NAF, in a statement by the Director of Public Relations and Information, Air Commodore Olatokunbo Adesanya, said the essence of the deployment was to provide the necessary air cover to the ground troops, to enhance overall operational cohesion and efficiency and in line with its commitment to national peace and security.

“The wide expanse of the exercise area and the request by the Nigerian Army for close air support made the involvement of the NAF inevitable.

“Exercise Egwu Eke II is aimed at combating security challenges in the South-Eastern part of the country. The deployment of the air assets in support of the Nigerian Army is thus in fulfillment of one of the constitutional mandates of the NAF,” the statement said.

It will be recalled that the operation began officially on September 15 and was planned to cover the entire South-East region of the country.