We’ll No Longer Treat Criminal Elements With Kid Gloves – Air Chief

• Air Chief Abubakar emphasizes that the Nigerian Air Force will no longer treat criminal elements with leniency and urges personnel to intensify efforts against them
• The Air Force Institute of Technology (AFIT) will conduct drug tests on new students to combat drug-related issues on campus

Air Marshal Hassan Bala Abubakar, Chief of the Air Staff, has stated that the force will no longer treat criminal elements with kid gloves.

Speaking yesterday in Kaduna at the 2023 graduation of 618 students from various military courses at the Air Force Institute of Technology (AFIT), comprising 27 officers and 591 airmen and airwomen, the air chief tasked personnel to continue the trajectory until all criminals are brought to their knees.

Air Vice Marshal Nnamdi Ananaba, represented by the Air Officer Commanding (AOC), Air Training Command, told the graduating students to use collective efforts to maintain the current intensity of air operations until the country is free of all forms of criminality.

Let me reiterate here that the era of treating criminal elements in our country with kids’ gloves is over. We must continue on this trajectory until we bring all of them to their knees. Therefore, as you rejoin the mainstream workforce of the Nigerian Air Force, your contributions would be instrumental to our collective efforts to sustain and even surpass current intensity of air operations until we completely rid our country of all forms of criminalities.

He expressed his delight at the recent curriculum review, noting that the institute has increased its emphasis on practical aspects rather than the predominantly theoretical training that was previously the case.

He praised the lecturers and instructors for their dedication and sacrifice in producing quality technical personnel for the Nigerian Air Force. He urged them to constantly improve standards to ensure that their graduates are up to date with cutting-edge technology and global best practices in aircraft and equipment maintenance.

Air Vice Marshal Sani Labaran Rabe, the Commandant of AFIT, announced that the institute will now conduct drug tests on new students to combat drug-related issues on campus.

He stated that steps had been taken, including punitive measures, to eradicate the issues of drug abuse and cultism.

To address issues related to drug abuse and cultism in the institute, we have resolved to administer drug tests on new intakes as measures to completely eradicate the issues.

To curtail the proliferation of cyber crimes among the staff and students, the institute has partnered with the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) to sensitise staff and students.