Aviation
Nigerian Air Base attacked by Boko Haram
ABUJA – Hundreds of suspected militants from the Islamic insurgency Boko Haram on Monday stormed an air base in Nigeria’s northeast, in a bold attempt to destroy the military’s main advantage: air power.
The rebels struck the town of Maiduguri before dawn, according to two witnesses and a Nigerian military statement. The attack triggered an hourslong firefight for control of the town’s strategic airfield. The military didn’t say how many people were killed, or respond to requests for those details.
“The Nigerian Army [has] successfully repelled the insurgents and inflicted serious casualties on them,” said Col. Muhammad Dole in an emailed statement.
Other witnesses cited by Associated Press described a scene littered with bodies and burned vehicles, but didn’t provide numbers.
The attack highlights the increasingly central role that combat aircraft are performing in Nigeria’s ever-escalating battle against Boko Haram. Some analysts describe Nigeria’s collection of aging helicopters and Chinese fighter jets as the country’s last big tactical advantage remaining.
Just four years ago, when Boko Haram leapt from obscurity to demand Islamic law in the country, they fought Nigeria’s army with bows and arrows and fertilizer bombs made from laptop bags.
Now, after successfully raiding government armories over several years, the insurgency has been spotted with rocket launchers, stolen armored personnel carriers and pickup truck-mounted machine guns. They are similar to the weapons al Qaeda allies used to conquer the north of Mali.
In return, Nigeria’s military—one of the rare African militaries with a sizable air force—says it has in recent months bombed its own territory.
The operations are difficult to confirm, happening in remote forested areas of the country. Western diplomats and Nigerian officials credit the bombing campaign with pushing some Boko Haram groups into the country’s mountainous border region with Cameroon.
Monday’s attack appeared to be an attempt to neutralize that advantage. It showed how the insurgency has consistently leveled the fight against its better-equipped Nigerian military, said Jacob Zenn, an Africa analyst at the Jamestown Foundation research institution in Washington, D.C.
“Their learning curve is incredibly high. Four years ago a lot of them couldn’t shoot a gun,” he said.
The insurgents appeared to have been hiding in a residential neighborhood in the northern town of Maiduguri, according to two witnesses, including a military officer present. The town has been the urban epicenter of Boko Haram’s movement.
For most of this year, however, Nigeria’s army has worked with a ragtag vigilante group that has handed over suspects to the army, stirring hopes the insurgency’s heartland city was undergoing a turnaround.
Monday’s assault dashed at least some of those hopes. Just before noon, Monday, the local government issued a rare 24-hour curfew, ordering all of the city’s roughly one million people into their homes.
– WALL STREET JOURNAL
An Abuja-Accra flight experienced technical difficulties mid-air on Friday, forcing it to return to Abuja, shortly after departure.
The Nigerian Safety Investigation Board (NSIB) made the disclosure in a statement, adding that it has launched investigation into what it described as a serious accident.
Director, Public Affairs and Family Assistance, NSIB, Bimbo Olawumi Oladeji stated that preliminary investigations revealed the aircraft experienced an engine number two indication issue.
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It was gathered that the aircraft, with registration number 5NKAL which was operating a flight from the Nnamdi Azikiwe Airport, Abuja (DNAA), to Kotoka International Airport, Accra (DGAA).
She explained that four persons were onboard when the incident occurred. The crew immediately requested for a diversion back to Abuja due to the engine indication.
Oladeji added that the crew managed to safely land the aircraft at Abuja Airport at 18:16 UTC.
There were no injuries reported, and all individuals on board are safe.
Nigeria has acquired 12 pre-owned Alpha Jets from the French Air Force as part of efforts to enhance the operational capacity of the Nigerian Air Force (NAF).
The deal, facilitated through SOFEMA, a French military and aeronautics company, was announced by Olusegun Dada, Special Assistant to President Bola Tinubu on via X on Thursday.
He said, “All the 12 aircraft are ready for shipping.”
The Alpha Jet, a product of Franco-German collaboration, is a versatile military aircraft designed for light attack and advanced training missions.
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Equipped to carry bombs, rockets, and missiles, the aircraft also features a gun pod for close air support.
The NAF already operates 11 Alpha Jets, but this latest procurement signals a significant boost to its fleet.
Dada also confirmed that the Air Force is expecting 24 M-346FA light attack aircraft, ordered during the administration of former President Muhammadu Buhari.
The first batch of these Italian-made aircraft is expected to arrive early next year.
Air Chief Marshal Hasan Abubakar, the Chief of Air Staff, described the acquisitions as a testament to President Tinubu’s commitment to bolstering the armed forces.
“This renewal of our aircraft fleet reflects the government’s commitment to ensuring the safety and security of Nigerians,” Abubakar said.
The announcement comes on the heels of President Tinubu’s three-day state visit to France, where he met with French President Emmanuel Macron.
The visit, which took place from November 27 to November 30, highlighted deepening ties between the two nations.
To ensure the sustainability of its expanding fleet, the Air Force has proposed establishing a local maintenance hub.
Speaking in October, Abubakar noted that six units of the M-346FA aircraft were already in production, with the initial batch of three expected to be delivered in early 2025. The full fleet is projected to arrive by 2026.
“These developments underscore the importance of creating a domestic support system for the long-term upkeep of our aircraft,” Abubakar added.
As the holiday season draws near, Aero Contractors has introduced a minimum ticket price of N80,000 for all local flights.
The move, which will last until January 2024, aims to ease the financial burden on Nigerians amid the high cost of living.
Ado Sanusi, Managing Director of Aero Contractors, made the announcement on Tuesday during a press briefing, describing the fare reduction as a gesture to help Nigerians celebrate Christmas and the New Year without the stress of steep ticket prices.
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Sanusi said, “We understand the economic hardship Nigerians are facing, especially with high ticket prices, and we know the holiday season is nearby.
“In the spirit of Christmas, Aero Contractors has introduced what we call pocket-friendly Christmas prices. These fares, starting at N80,000, will apply to all our destinations, allowing Nigerians to travel without excessive costs.”
As of Tuesday afternoon, an economy class ticket from Lagos to Abuja was priced at N99,643, while business class tickets were being sold for N189,167.
Sanusi further explained that the initiative was designed to make it easier for families to reunite during the holidays.
“This is a way for us, as an organization with a long history of serving Nigerians, to give back to our loyal customers. We want to make it possible for families to meet their loved ones during this festive season without worrying about exorbitant travel costs,” he added.
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