Disturbed by the threat issued by the dreaded Islamic sect, Boko Haram against President Goodluck Jonathan, the Nigerian Air Force in Kaduna on Saturday embarked on a 10 kilometer route match to declare its readiness against any threat to the country internal security.
This is coming as unknown gunmen on Saturday shot a police officer, Inspector Alhaji Kawaye attached to the Crime Division of the Rigasa Police station in Igabi local government council of the Kaduna State.
Speaking shortly after the exercise , the Air Officer Commanding(AOC), Air Marshal Alex Sabundu –Badeh charged the officers and men of the command be ever ready to protect the corporate co-existence of the Nigeria in the current security challenges in the country.
Besides, the Airforce chief urged the officers and men of the command to at all time be vigilant and battle ready for any Boko Haram Islamic sect that have been wrecking havoc across Northern states.
Over 1,000 officers and men of the command took part in the 10 kilometre route match aimed at keeping them fit.
The exercise which took place at the Headquarters of the NAF Training Command, Nigerian Airforce Base, Kaduna was attended by Commanders, Officers and men of the seven commands in Kaduna, namely. The Head Quarters Training Command(TC), Air Force Institute of Technology (AFIT), 325 Ground Training Group ( GTG), 335 Base Services Group, 333 Logistic Group ,345 Aero medical Hospital and the Nigeria Air Force Institute of Safety.
The AOC , while assuring the officers and men of the command of an open door police warned against indiscipline among them.
Said the Airforce chief, “Our quick and prompt assembly for the Route Match has shown that the NAF will perform creditably well if we are called upon to go out for any operation.
“This exercise is not a kind of a show of our physical fitness, but to be able to bring everybody together and do things together as a group.
“Certainly any exercise you do will enhance your physical fitness and since nobody fell by the road side during the exercise, it means that we have proved to be ready for any call to duty.”
Meanwhile, the shooting of Inspector Kawaye by unknown gunmen led to the arrest of several commercial motorcyclists, otherwise known as Okada riders.
Eye witness said the Police officer who was attacked in the morning while on his way to the office narrowly escaped death.
It was gathered that his assailants who came on a motorbike after shooting the Inspector, left him in the pool of his own blood thinking he was dead and fled the scene of the incident.
Rigasa, an outskirt of Kaduna, had of recent been enmeshed in crisis of sort leading to the killing of several people by unknown gunmen.
Almost all the killings in the area where carried out by unknown gunmen using motorcycles.
Meanwhile, Inspector Kawaye was said to be rushed to an undisclosed hospital for treatment.
There was heavy presence of police in the area just as Okada riders deserted the area to avoid arrest.
Apr152012