Abuja (Sundiata Post) – The Nigeria Air Force (NAF) has spent more than N2.4 billion on fuel in the last 18 months, carrying out its search operations of the Sambisa Forest for the missing Chibok girls and other abducted citizens.
This is contained in a special report by the #BringBackOurGirls Movement, following the return of four of its members from a guided tour of the Sambisa war zone.
The report, which was signed by the quartet of Oby Ezekwesili, Aisha Yesufu, Manasseh Allen and Ibrahim Usman for and on behalf of the #BringBackOurGirls, also hinted that a total of 3,534 sorties were made by the troop within the same period.
“We observed the coordination between the NAF and the Nigerian Army which prosecutes the ground component of the war was demonstrably strong as we saw evidence of the manner in which they share information toward achieving results.
“We were provided data and imagery evidence to show that the search for our Chibok Girls and other abducted citizens is a daily activity by NAF.
“The data sheet showing the summary of all search operations was displayed with the following key data points over the last eighteen months by NAF: total missions to Sambisa general area – 2,105; number of sorties – 3,534; time/hour of flight – 6,323 (and) fuel cost – over N2.4 billion,” the report read in part.
The report also called for continued stay of the troop in Sambisa, despite the achievement it has recorded so far.
“We became aware that our troop must remain in Sambisa general area, which the NAF data presented as 60,000 square kilometers, and equivalent to 18 times the size of Lagos. (There is currently a public contention and debate over this data and so our Movement calls on the NAF in the promotion of transparency to clarify the accuracy for everyone’s understanding).
“The legitimate fear of regrouping of the enemies to relaunch new attacks means that our military on air and on ground operations must continue.
“There is no contradiction in the fact of the recovery of Camp Zairo by our troops and yet our Chibok girls not having been recovered at that same time. This is because, in view of the vast land of the Sambisa general area, our Chibok girls could have been taken to a new base into which the terrorists relocated when they fled Camp Zairo,” it added.