Air Force of Nigeria will support French Operation Serval in Mali with fighter aircraft 1901132

The aircraft are the F-7 supersonic fighter aircraft, the latest and most modern in the NAF inventory, and the Alpha Jet fighter aircraft aka 'Dudu Bird' which fast tracked the surrender of the rebels in both the Liberian and Sierra Leonean civil wars.

This came as Senate, yesterday, approved the deployment of 1,200 Nigerian troops to join French forces that are currently staging an onslaught against the Islamist militia in Mali.

Similarly, Chief of Army Staff, COAS, General Azubuike Ihejirika, yesterday, explained why Nigeria is a formidable part of the planned war against Islamic rebels in Northern Mali, saying it was to clean Mali of training camps where Islamic terrorists are trained to attack Nigeria.

Meanwhile, the Federal Government, yesterday, briefed ambassadors from European Union, EU, Canada and United States on the situation in Mali.

The COAS spoke in Kaduna State while fielding questions from reporters after his farewell speech to the 906 troops at the Nigerian Army Cantonment, Jaji, Kaduna.

Meanwhile, confirming the deployments of two aircraft, yesterday, Director of Air Force Public Relations, Air Commodore Yusuf Anas, said already, a contingent of 66 officers and airmen departed Port Harcourt, Rivers State for Mali, yesterday.

At this time, the fighter jets of Nigerian Air Force , Alpha Jet and F-7 Supersonic, were on their way to join French fighter jets already in Mali.