NAF: We restored peace in Gambia… how can we support coup?

The Nigerian Air Force (NAF)  says it is not involved in any military coup plot in the country.

In a statement issued on Thursday by Olatokunbo Adesanya, its spokesperson, NAF pledged its allegiance to President Muhammadu Buhari and the Nigerian government.

It was reacting to a publication credited to an online medium which alleged that the force is involved in the planning of the purported coup.

It said the allegations constitutes a source of distraction to its personnel “who are sacrificing on a daily basis to ensure the security of Nigeria”.

“The NAF considers it most ridiculous that anyone in his/her right senses, especially in the 21st Century, could still be fixated on the possibility of effecting a change in government in Nigeria in any way other than through the ballot box,” the statement read.

“It would be recalled that Sadique Baba Abubakar, chief of air staff, had on May 18, 2017, while commissioning new residential accommodation for personnel at NAF base, Bill Clinton drive Abuja, emphatically pledged the loyalty of the NAF to the president and commander-in-chief as well as to the Nigerian constitution.

“It is imperative to state that the earlier stance of the NAF on the unfortunate coup rumours has not changed. The strong belief of the NAF in democratic values was also demonstrated during the recent Gambian crisis.

“The NAF was the first and only air force that ensured the will of Gambians was not subverted by promptly deploying its fighter aircraft, in addition to its transport aircraft to airlift needed troops and logistics, in readiness to preserve the country’s democracy, in line with the federal government’s directives.

“It is therefore inconceivable that the same NAF would be involved in any way in any attempt to dismantle the political structure in Nigeria.

“It appears some individuals with unknown intentions are bent on further spreading the malicious misinformation and hence, the need for the NAF to react.

“The chief of the air staff would like to assure Nigerians as a whole of the unalloyed loyalty of all NAF personnel to the president and commander-in-chief as well as to the government of Nigeria as democratically constituted.”