The Nigerian Air Force (NAF) has reportedly received new systems and ammunition designed to support the fight against insurgency in north-eastern parts of the country.
Nigerian Air Force Chief of Air Staff air marshal Adesola Amosu was quoted by the Nigerian Tribune as saying that the platforms were currently being tested and calibrated at a range in Owode, Lagos, to bring additional capabilities to the ongoing battle against the insurgents.
Amosu said: "We are incorporating some new systems and ammunition to the platforms we have.
"We have been in the air notifying the citizens accordingly that there is an ongoing operation to recalibrate our weapon system and fine tune our tactics."
Amosu also noted that the Air Force will step up air strikes on insurgents in the coming days.
"We also need to intensify the day and night operations and we are here essentially to kick off the operations."
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By GlobalDataSupported by the Nigerien, Cameroonian and Chadian troops, the Nigerian military already intensified its campaign to draw out the Boko Haram insurgents from Borno State, after a female suicide bomber detonated herself at a bus station in Damaturu, killing at least 16 and injuring 30 others.
Meanwhile, Nigerian President Goodluck Jonathan has requested the US to deploy soldiers to the country to counter Boko Haram, which controls a swathe of territory in North-East.
Jonathan was quoted by The Wall Street Journal as saying that he has been appealing the US since early 2014 to send soldiers along with military advisers to fight Boko Haram, which is receiving ‘training and funds’ from Islamic State.
"Are they not fighting ISIS? Why can’t they come to Nigeria?.
"If Nigeria has a problem, then I expect the US to come and assist us."
However, Pentagon press secretary Navy rear admiral John Kirby said the country does not intend to unilaterally send soldiers to Nigeria, but is considering participation in a multinational task force with African nations to assist the country in its fight against insurgency.
The task force will be designed to help strengthen Nigeria’s own counter-terrorism capabilities, Kirby added.