The Nigerian Air Force has deployed to a contingent of two hundred men and air assets comprising fighter jets, transport aircraft, Light Utility Helicopter as well as Intelligence, Surveillance and Reconnaissance aircraft to Dakar senegal from where it is expected to operate into the Islamic Republic of Gambia.

The deployment forms part of Nigerian contingent of Economic Community of West African States Military Intervention in Gambia (ECOMIG) to enforce the December 1, 2016 election mandate in the The Gambia.

The deployment is also to forestall hostilities or breakdown of law and order that may result from the current political impasse in that country.
 
Addressing the contingent before departure, the Chief of the Air Staff, Air Marshal Sadique Baba Abubakar urged the troops to maintain discipline and be professional in their conduct.

Reminding them to be good ambassadors of Nigeria, the CAS stated that no act of indiscipline by the contingent would be tolerated.

The contingent, led by Air Commodore Tajudeen Yusuf, was airlifted this morning from 117 Air Combat Training Group Kainji.

A statement from the Air-force director of public relations Group Captian Ayodele Famuyiwa revealed that countries such as Senegal, Ghana are also contributing  troops to the planned onslaught in Gambia.

Report by Okey Nnabuchi