By Joseph Erunke

ABUJA—DISTURBED by the inadequate number of aircraft earlier in its fleet to withstand the strength of Boko Haram insurgents,  the Nigerian Air Force has activated and brought to flying status, a total of 13 aircraft in 2016 out of the over 15 aircraft that were found grounded.

Chief of Air Staff, Air Marshal Sadique Abubakar, who disclosed this in Abuja, said the remainining two were being worked upon and would soon be brought back to flying status.

Sadique said the activation of the aircraft contributed immensely to the fall of Camp Zero, the operational headquarters of Boko Haram terrorists, which subsequently led to the total defeat of the insurgents.

But the Air Force boss vowed that despite the defeat of the dreaded terrorists sect, Air Force had no intention of moving out its men from the North East soon.

The disclosure came following concerns by some Nigerians that the security outfit lacked adequate and necessary aircraft to tackle the menace of insecurity across the country.

The Air Force boss flayed those with such belief, saying they were ignorant of the procurement or military aircraft acquisition procedures such as combat aircraft.

He said: “On procurement and challenges of procurement as to whether we have the required number of air planes, how many air planes you have is by and large, determined by the threat analysis.”