By Musa Haruna

The Nigerian Army has begun efforts to strengthen quality control in its aviation operations, with a focus on reducing flight risks, improving aircraft serviceability and sustaining operational readiness.

The Chief of Army Staff, Lt.-Gen. Waidi Shaibu, announced the initiative on Monday in Abuja while declaring open a five-day workshop on Aviation Quality Management Systems organised by the Nigerian Army Aviation Command.

Shaibu, represented by the Chief of Standards and Evaluation, Maj.-Gen. Thompson Ugiagbe, said the growing demands of military aviation required effective systems for maintaining safety, enforcing standards and ensuring reliable operations.

He explained that having aircraft and skilled personnel alone was not enough to guarantee effective aviation support, stressing the need for quality assurance mechanisms that would promote consistency and operational efficiency.

According to him, a well-established quality management system would enable the Army to detect potential hazards, address lapses, enforce approved procedures and prevent recurring operational shortcomings.

The army chief said the need for such measures had become more important as the service continued to develop its aviation capabilities to support ground operations.

Since the re-establishment of Nigerian Army Aviation in 2014, he noted, the military had continued to invest in the platforms, personnel, facilities and structures needed to improve its operational capacity.

Shaibu said the workshop would allow participants to assess practical ways of strengthening aviation safety, maintenance procedures, record-keeping, quality assurance and compliance with established standards.

He expressed optimism that the discussions would generate workable proposals for establishing a sustainable quality management framework across the aviation command.

He urged participants to focus on measures that would improve safety practices, strengthen internal processes and ensure that aviation equipment remained dependable for military assignments.

Earlier, the Commander of the Nigerian Army Aviation Command, Brig.-Gen. Al-Amin Ibrahim, described quality management as a critical requirement for safe flight operations, aircraft availability and effective mission delivery.

Ibrahim said the system should be treated as an operational necessity rather than an administrative formality, noting that its effectiveness would influence accountability, mission performance and the Army’s overall combat preparedness.

He said the workshop was intended to develop a coordinated approach to standardisation, documentation, performance monitoring and continuous improvement throughout the command.

The commander also called on personnel to take collective responsibility for maintaining quality standards, regardless of their roles in the aviation unit.

He said the responsibility extended to officers, soldiers and civilian employees working in flight operations, aircraft maintenance, logistics, training, administration and other support services.

Ibrahim emphasised the importance of identifying and addressing potential problems before they developed into operational failures, urging participants to prioritise prevention over corrective action.

He identified strict compliance with procedures, effective supervision, risk assessment, prompt reporting and lessons learned from previous experiences as essential elements of a strong aviation safety culture.

The commander further disclosed that the workshop’s proceedings and recommendations would be documented in a compendium to support implementation, track progress and guide periodic reviews of quality management measures.

The five-day workshop, which began on Monday and is scheduled to conclude on Friday, brings together relevant stakeholders to develop strategies for improving quality assurance and promoting operational excellence within Nigerian Army Aviation.

By Tada Jutha, Maiduguri

Troops of the Northeast Joint Task Force, Operation Hadin Kai (OPHK), have foiled an attempted attack by Islamic State West Africa Province (ISWAP) terrorists on a military formation in Mandaragirau, Biu Local Government Area of Borno State.

The attack was repelled in the early hours of today Saturday, along the Damboa-Biu road, with the military reporting that several terrorists were killed and a number of weapons and other equipment recovered.

In a statement issued in Maiduguri, the Acting Media Information Officer of OPHK, Capt. Mohammed Goni, said troops of the 162 Amphibious Battalion successfully defended their Forward Operating Base (FOB) in Mandaragirau against the attackers.

According to him, the terrorists launched a coordinated assault on the military position from two directions at about 2am.

He said troops detected the advancing fighters through early-warning and surveillance systems before deploying a combat team to intercept one of the groups.

“Contact was made, resulting in a heavy exchange of fire during which the combat team decisively defeated the attackers on that front,” Mr Goni said.

He added that another group attempted to circumvent the ambush team and infiltrate the military camp but was stopped by troops who responded with superior firepower.

The military spokesman said the coordinated response forced the terrorists to retreat towards the Timbuktu Triangle, with troops immediately launching a pursuit and combing the area and the routes used by the fleeing fighters.

The operation also led to the recovery of seven AK-47 rifles and ammunition, alongside other military hardware, according to the statement.

Other items recovered included a rocket-propelled grenade launcher, RPG bombs and chargers, a camcorder and other equipment believed to have been used by the terrorists.

Mr Goni said surveillance footage obtained after the encounter showed some of the fleeing terrorists attempting to drag the bodies of their dead colleagues towards the Timbuktu Triangle.

He described the operation as another demonstration of the troops’ preparedness and combat capability in confronting terrorist groups operating in the Northeast.

The Theatre Command of Operation Hadin Kai commended the soldiers of the 162 Amphibious Battalion for what it described as their courage, professionalism and tactical effectiveness in repelling the attack.

The command also reaffirmed its determination to sustain offensive operations against terrorist groups and prevent them from gaining freedom of action across the Northeast.

Operation Hadin Kai, the military said, remains committed to dominating the operational environment and restoring lasting peace and security in the region.

NAF Kills Nine ISWAP Fighters, Senior Commander in Borno Airstrike

The Nigerian Air Force has killed nine Islamic State West Africa Province (ISWAP) fighters, including a senior commander, in an airstrike on a terrorist hideout in Borno State.

The operation, conducted on Saturday in the Sambisa Forest, followed intelligence reports indicating the movement of suspected insurgents in the area.

The NAF spokesperson, Air Commodore Ehimen Ejodame, disclosed this in a statement issued in Abuja on Sunday.

He said the military first deployed a remotely piloted aircraft to monitor the suspected fighters and establish their location before launching the strike.

“Following positive identification and confirmation of the target, NAF aircraft conducted a precision engagement on the location,” Mr Ejodame said.

According to him, a post-strike assessment showed that the targeted compound was extensively damaged, with nine ISWAP members killed and several others injured.

Among those killed was Abu Khalid Al Muhajir, whom the NAF described as a key commander responsible for providing security escorts to senior ISWAP leaders.

Mr Ejodame said the commander’s death could significantly affect the group’s ability to protect and move its high-ranking members, particularly because of his knowledge of routes and terrain connecting terrorist positions within Sambisa Forest and neighbouring areas.

The NAF also said intelligence gathered from the operation indicated that some of the fighters targeted may have been linked to the recent ambush of Nigerian troops along the Bita-Yamtage axis in Gwoza Local Government Area of Borno.

The Air Force said the operation reflected the growing role of intelligence-led aerial surveillance in tracking terrorist movements and striking their positions before they can reorganise.

It added that the loss of the fighters, particularly the senior commander, was expected to disrupt ISWAP’s internal security arrangements, movement of high-value operatives and coordination among its various enclaves.

Mr Ejodame said the NAF would continue to conduct intelligence-based air operations in coordination with ground troops as part of efforts to weaken terrorist networks and protect communities across the North-east.