In an efforts to further enhance Nigerian Air Force (NAF) special operations capabilities, the Force have received a boost with the graduation of another batch of 20 Military Working Dogs (MWDs) and Canine (K-9) handlers, 5 of which have been trained in a range of special operations skills including rappelling from helicopters as well as tracking of adversary movements and positions in an area of operation.
The graduation ceremony, which took place on Friday 6 September 2019, at the NAF Base Kaduna, would further improve measures for the protection of NAF assets and facilities as well as critical national infrastructure, like Airports, especially in times of emergencies, the Nigeria Air Force Spokesperson, Air Commodore Ibikunle Daramola explained.
Speaking at the ceremony, the Chief of the Air Staff (CAS), Air Marshal Sadique Abubakar, who was the Guest of Honour, noted that upon assumption of office, part of the outcome of a gap analysis conducted to ascertain the NAF’s requirement for the protection of its assets revealed the need for a holistic capacity development among the specialist directorates charged with security, law enforcement and base defence.
He disclosed that the Air Provost (AP), as one of these specialist directorates, has received and will continue to receive attention in this regard, with the development of K-9 capabilities being one of the areas of focus.
The CAS recalled how the NAF had inducted the first batch of 20 Military Working Dogs with narcotics and explosive detection capabilities. He noted that the import of inducting Special Operations Dogs in the second batch of training was to provide the AP with the capacity to conduct specialized policing functions in support of the roles of the newly established Special Operations Command.
Air Marshal Abubakar went further to highlight some of the additional steps taken to enhance the capacity of the NAF AP personnel, including the establishment of a new K-9 Wing in Bauchi, equipped with modern facilities for K-9 development and administration, to support the Counter Insurgency (COIN) Operations in the Northeast. He said a full-fledged AP Training Centre had also been established at Kerang