₦airaland Forum

Nigeria airforce could pick up a few transport Pumas for cheap here...

https://www.twz.com/air/puma-helicopter-retires-from-uk-service-after-more-than-50-years


Air Helicopters
Puma Helicopter Retires From UK Service After More Than 50 Years
The Puma was a tireless workhorse for the Royal Air Force and its successor has yet to be formally


The Puma medium support helicopter, one of the longest-serving aircraft in the history of the U.K. Royal Air Force (RAF), was retired by the service today, after 54 years of operations. While the workhorse helicopter was seen off in style, with farewell flights in the United Kingdom, as well as in Brunei and Cyprus, the Ministry of Defense is yet to decide on a replacement for the Puma.

At the time of its formal withdrawal today, March 31, the RAF had 23 Pumas on strength, all of which had been upgraded to the definitive HC2 standard. However, months in advance of the retirement, the main operating base at RAF Benson, England, had already begun putting Pumas into storage. The announcement that the Puma fleet would be withdrawn by the end of this month came last November, as part of sweeping cuts of the U.K. Armed Forces, as you can read about here. By that time, the frontline Puma fleet was reduced to 17 active aircraft.

'Orange Glow'-Two Puma 2 medium lift helicopters return home to RAF Benson after a long day supporting Exercise Wessex Storm, moving troops from 2 Para on 4 Dec 2020. The glow from the sunset reflects off the side of the aircraft to create a unique light as they taxi back.
A pair of Puma H2 helicopters return home to RAF Benson after a long day supporting Exercise Wessex Storm, moving troops from 2 Para, in December 2020. Crown Copyright Sgt Andy Holmes
As well as the Pumas, 14 of the oldest Chinook heavy-lift helicopters used by the RAF were also slated to be removed from service.

The farewell flight by three Pumas — callsign WARLOCK flight — out of Benson on March 26 took in various locations that held an important place in the type’s RAF career.

Among them was Northern Ireland, where the Puma was heavily involved during The Troubles, providing support and transport for the British Army, as well as during subsequent peacekeeping efforts.

Key training bases and exercise areas, including Cranwell, Halton, Honington, Shawbury, and the Stanford Training Area (STANTA), were also included.


Meanwhile, Boscombe Down and Airbus Kidlington were on the itinerary, these sites were central for the maintenance and operational upkeep of the RAF Pumas in their last years of service.

Pictured: 33 Squadron Puma flying over the Derwent reservoir bridge, during their final flight on the 27th. The Puma helicopter departs RAF Benson for the final time as it takes off to fly around the UK as part of its farewell flight. The Puma helicopter has been in Service within the RAF for 54 years and will end its flying days as of 31 March 2025. On 26 March RAF Benson waved off Puma helicopters for the last time as they embarked on their farewell flight around the UK. The Puma helicopter has been the work horse of the Royal Air Force (RAF) for over five decades. Introduced into service in 1971, the Puma quickly became a key asset, known for its agility, speed, and versatility. Over the years, it has been deployed in various Operations and humanitarian missions. In recent history it has seen service in Kenya 2009 to 2011 where they supported UK exercises and in Afghanistan 2015 to 2021. It has also provided support in the Caribbean as a part of Operation RUMAN after Hurricane Irma in September 2017. During COVID it took part in Operation RESCRIPT in 2020, providing vital aid to those in need. Up until March 2025, it has been involved in enduring operations in Cyprus and Brunei.
A No. 33 Squadron Puma HC2 flying over the Derwent reservoir bridge, during the final flight from RAF Benson on March 27, 2025. Crown Copyright AS1 Jake Hobbs
“This flight route is via various locations of significance,” said Wing Commander Nick Monahan, commanding officer of No. 33 Squadron and Puma Force Commander. “Each place reflects the rich history and contributions that the Puma has made during its time in service. The aircraft has been a cornerstone of global defense operations for more than five decades. We want to celebrate its contribution to supporting our people around the world over the past 54 years.


Two more farewell flypasts took place at the RAF Puma’s other final operating locations: Brunei, on the island of Borneo, where the helicopter supported a battalion of the British Army’s Royal Gurkha Rifles, and Cyprus, where the type equipped the RAF’s last remaining dedicated search and rescue squadron. The Cyprus-based Pumas were also used to support British military activities on the island and for aerial firefighting.

Pictured: 84 Squadron Puma helicopter conducts a farewell flight over Cyprus. On Thursday 27 March 2025, two Puma helicopters from 84 Squadron departed RAF Akrotiri to conduct a farewell flight of Cyprus. The aircraft flew over both the ESBA and WSBA including flypasts over Larnaca International Airport, Dhekelia Station, Ay Nik Station, Nicosia, Episkopi Station, Paphos International Airport, Troodos Mountains, and a final flight over RAF Akrotiri. The RAF Puma Force have supported critical operations on the frontlines, performed life-saving rescues, provided essential firefighting capabilities and delivered humanitarian aid all over the globe for the last 54 years. Introduced into service in 1971, the Puma quickly became a key asset, known for its agility, speed, and versatility. Over the years, it has been deployed in various Operations and humanitarian missions. In recent history it has seen service in Kenya 2009 to 2011 where they supported UK exercises and in Afghanistan 2015 to 2021. It has also provided support in the Caribbean as a part of Operation RUMAN after Hurricane Irma in September 2017. During COVID it took part in Operation RESCRIPT in 2020, providing vital aid to those in need. Up until March 2025, it has been involved in enduring operations in Cyprus and Brunei. RAF Akrotiri is home of the Cyprus Operations Support Unit which provides joint support to British Forces Cyprus and operations in the region to protect the UK's strategic interests.
A No. 84 Squadron Puma HC conducts a farewell flight over Cyprus on March 27, 2025. Crown Copyright AS1 Natalie Adams RAF

Designed by Aérospatiale of France and built in the United Kingdom by Westland, the Puma first entered RAF service in 1971. Initially, its primary mission was carrying troops and logistics, as well as casualty evacuation, which it was expected to do on the battlefield if NATO had ever gone to war with the Warsaw Pact on the Central Front.

The Puma could carry 12 fully equipped troops or up to 4,400 pounds of freight, the latter moved as internal cargo or underslung, or a mix of the two. For casualty evacuation, it could be configured with up to six stretchers.

The helicopter soon gained a reputation for agility, speed, and versatility during the course of multiple overseas operations and humanitarian relief missions. As well as in Northern Ireland and Belize, the RAF Puma saw notable operational service in Rhodesia, in the 1991 and 2003 conflicts in Iraq, and in the former Yugoslavia, where it contributed to the U.K. effort as part of the NATO-led Kosovo Force (KFOR).

Of the 48 original Puma HC1 variants, 24 were upgraded to HC2 standard, one of these being lost on operations in Afghanistan. The Puma HC2 featured more powerful Makila 1A1 turboshaft engines, increased range, new composite tail rotor blades, and a modern digital cockpit, among other changes, collectively known as the Puma Life Extension Programme (LEP).

“A Moment in Time” A formation of 10 Puma helicopters departed RAF Benson on 7th July 2021 as part of a training sortie that incorporated flypasts of notable locations for the Puma Force over the past 50 years. Pictured here are four of hte Puma’s leaving an RAF Base. This included those that hold historical significance as well as those that provide support to delivering current Puma operational capability. The helicopters have also supported UK resilience such as providing a helicopter lift capability to flood relief efforts and more recently the COVID-19 response. Based at Kinloss Barracks, the Pumas deployed at short notice in the early stages of the pandemic to provide vital transport for personnel and equipment in Scotland and Northern England, as well as being on standby 24/7 to support any task required in the UK. Group Captain Nick Paton, the Puma Force Commander and Station Commander at RAF Benson, said: “Since the Puma first came into service in 1971, it has successfully contributed to operations and humanitarian missions around the globe. Today is a poignant day for all who have served and continue to serve on the Puma Force as we mark 50 years of outstanding service. The commitment and professionalism of the whole team, whether aircrew, engineers, or support staff, has been exceptional. They deserve to be proud of everything they have achieved together over the past five decades.”
A formation of 10 Puma HC2s departs RAF Benson in July 2021 as part of a training sortie. Crown Copyright SAC Emma Wade
The first upgraded Puma HC2s entered RAF service in September 2012, followed by an initial release to service in August 2015.

Once upgraded, Pumas saw extensive service in Afghanistan between 2015 and 2021.


“It’s a great aircraft for the operations we’ve been on,” Squadron Leader Niall Davidson, second-in-command of No. 33 Squadron, told Forces News. “Be that Northern Ireland, Iraq, Afghanistan.”

He continued: “It’s a great aircraft for getting in and out of really tight urban sites, even in high altitudes of Kabul we are able to lift troops out of really tight sites and keep them off the roads.”








Other recent Puma assignments included Operation Ruman, providing humanitarian support in the Caribbean after Hurricane Irma struck in September 2017. In the United Kingdom, the Puma was active in the response to the COVID pandemic, under Operation Rescript in 2020.

In Belize and Cyprus, the Puma’s role will be taken on as of next year by six Jupiter (Airbus H145) helicopters, a type that the RAF otherwise primarily uses for advanced training.

“Agile Landings” A 50th Anniversary Puma helicopter flies over the Oxofordshire countryside on 2nd July 2021, Flight Sergeant Richard Barker is seen in the door of the Puma as it lands at salisbury Plains. As part of the Puma 50th anniversary celebrations and commemorations, Puma HC Mk 2 XW224 has been re-painted in a unique paint scheme. The aircraft scheme is similar to that which the first aircraft were painted when they were delivered in 1971 but with several notable differences. The engine housing boasts the badges of all squadrons who have flown the Puma, both as a HC Mk 1 and a HC Mk 2. The tail fin is also emblazoned with the union flag. On the cabin door, the standard Royal Air Force logo has been replaced with the bespoke Puma 50 logo and the cockpit door is annotated with the name of the first Squadron Commander who brought the aircraft into operational service. SAC Hannah Smoker is an RAF Photographer who is into her last year of service and currently working in the Photographic Section at RAF Benson. She joined the RAF in 2013 after attending the University of Lincoln, studying Media Production. Since then she has served at RAF Marham, RAF Coningsby and with the Red Arrows at RAF Scampton.
Wearing a 50th-anniversary special color scheme, a Puma HC2 flies over the Oxfordshire countryside in July 2021. Crown Copyright Hannah Smoker
As for the bulk of the RAF Puma fleet, a replacement is still to be decided.

Last month, it was reported that the United Kingdom was “close” to deciding on a type for its New Medium Helicopter (NMH) requirement. This is the program to replace the Puma, but it’s been dogged by delays, cost concerns, and the withdrawal of two of the three bidding vendors.

Expected to be worth $1.5 billion, the NMH competition calls for up to 44 new rotorcraft, although, should the program survive, it’s likely to be trimmed down to 23–30 helicopters. As well as the Puma, the NMH is intended to replace the six shadowy ‘Blue Thunder’ AS365N3 Dauphin IIs that are used in support of special forces operations, notably by the Special Air Service (SAS).

Previously, the Airbus Helicopters H175M, Leonardo AW149, and Lockheed Martin S-70M Black Hawk were all in the running for NMH, but last year, both Airbus Helicopters and Lockheed Martin withdrew their participation. The companies said that they couldn’t fulfill the requirement within the budget provided. While it might be expected that Leonardo has now sealed the competition, there are still questions about whether it will survive, at least in its current form, amid a time of tough defense procurement decisions.


As for the retired Pumas, it’s also unclear what will happen to them.

While old, the airframes have been upgraded and well looked after, and they could well be attractive on the secondhand market, provided they are not scrapped.

An alternative might be to donate them to Ukraine, which would surely find a use for them. Kyiv has also previously received helicopters retired by the U.K. Armed Forces, specifically former Royal Navy Sea Kings. Meanwhile, Portugal has also donated eight Pumas to Ukraine, so there would be some useful type of commonality.

Whatever happens next to the ex-RAF Pumas, there’s no doubt that these venerable rotorcraft provided invaluable service to the British Armed Forces over a remarkably long period.

South Africans running from DRC

Just like your LovePeddler mother and your leper father...

PresidObi:
You must be a big criminal and a threat to your community before they can chase you like that?

LIAR.
Unfortunately, this is very common in igbo land.
Distant relatives use this opportunity to seize land belonging to your father which he worked hard for.

It happened to me, this is why I say this with confidence. It took me 15 years to sort the matter out. I spent a lot of money and involved police, army, efcc , courts, African traditional religion, cults. I had to be constantly on the move.
They promised to kill me and my 4 brothers. But in the end we all survived and most of them are dead or debilitated now.
Our hands were clean and baba God saw everything.
God pass all of them.

PresidObi:
This is very bad if true. Very bad of the community.

But.

I have seen cases like this where the said man is the thorn on the flesh of his whole community, attacking, arresting, blackmailing and sabotaging the peace of the community for so long, sheltering at the next village where they have land case with his community. The community sponsoring him later killed him, and because he had been going to the police to allege threats to his life by his community, the police are trying to arrest members of his community.

COAS

.

OPERATION LAFIYAN JAMAA: COMMANDER 6 BRIGADE COMMENDS TROOPS, URGES SUSTAINED MOMENTUM AGAINST BANDITRY

The Commander 6 Brigade Nigerian Army and Sector 3 Operation Whirl Stroke (OPWS), Brigadier General Kingsley Chidiebere Uwa, has commended the troops of 6 Brigade for their unwavering commitment and gallantry in the ongoing military operation code named "OPERATION LAFIYAN JAMAA."

The operation, launched across the 16 Local Government Areas of Taraba State, aims to dismantle bandit networks infiltrating the state from neighboring regions and ensuring they find no safe haven. It also seeks to restore peace and security, enabling residents to engage in farming activities without fear during both the dry and rainy seasons.

General Uwa made this commendation today while addressing troops at Andami in Karim Lamido Local Government Area after a successful clearance operation targeting multiple bandit hideouts, including Komodoro, Ginarunbu, Chibi, Chikum, Bitriklin, Mashigi Kirya, Jamaga, and Wagal villages. During these operations, several abandoned bandit camps were discovered and subsequently destroyed, further crippling criminal activities in the area.

The Commander praised the troops for their resilience and urged them to redouble their efforts in sustaining the momentum against banditry, kidnapping, and other criminal activities plaguing the state. "The successes recorded so far are a testament to your dedication and professionalism. However, we must not relent. We must remain vigilant, decisive, and proactive in ensuring that Taraba State remains unsafe for criminals," General Uwa charged the troops.

The Nigerian Army remains committed to restoring lasting peace and stability in Taraba and beyond, working tirelessly to protect lives and property. The public is encouraged to support security agencies by providing credible information that will aid ongoing operations.

OLUBODUNDE ONI
Captain
Acting Assistant Director
Army Public Relations
6 Brigade Nigerian Army
13 March 2025

STUDENTS OF JUNIOR COURSE 99/2025 ON OPERATIONAL TOUR TO NIGERIAN ARMY SCHOOL OF MILITARY ENGINEERING AND TACTICAL AIR COMMAND NIGERIAN AIR FORCE MAKURDI FROM 27 - 28 FEBRUARY 2025.

There appears to be South African, Liberian and possibly s/Leone/gambian junior officers in the fray as well.

Whether advertently or inadvertently.

The facts are that monies and aid are going directly or indirectly to terrorist organizations around the world including ISIS and boko haram from USAID.

We did not make up the story, it's straight from the American congress itself. Not even audios; but Videos are online everywhere to be seen.

I re-emphasise that throughout the 16 years of counterinsurgency we have consistently had independent reports of aid helicopters landing in boko haram hotspots to disembark goods.

With Jonathan, things went sour with americans and obama when they refused the americans a base in Nigeria and when they were anti-LGBTQ+.

In the DRC, we have seen crashed aid planes with diamonds and gold nuggets.

The Israelis who are direct friend to the Americans have consistently raised accusations against UNWAR who are supplied by USAID for supporting terrorists.

What we should be concerned about is arresting, charging and destroying the collaborators in Nigeria and targeted assassinations of foreigners directly involved in financing them.
We know who all these people are in Northern Nigeria. Now we know the external sources.
DSS, NSA and the NIA are incompetent toothless bulldogs who are unable to do their jobs.

Need I point out the deaths of in excess of 1 million Nigerians in this 16 years of counterinsurgency?

Faithful007:
All that talk about USAID funding BH is nonsense. While it is possible that aid from USAID may have been used at any point by terrorism/ insurgency groups as in the case of hamas. That does not equate to funding of terrorist groups.

The way BH/ISWAP and the rest of them operate, mixes them up with the civilian populations and makes it easier for them to divert aid meant for civilians.

President Trump and his team playing a game here. They want to end unconditional aid majority of which is carried out by USAID. The aim is to collapse it and bring all aid under the state department. Since USAID was established by congress, they cannot technically shut it down. So they played a smart game. First he made Marco Rubio, the state secretary head of USAID.

Now they know that courts will still order that funds allocated for USAID be spent so they started the whole terrroism story to achieve two things. Destroy public support locally and internationally for USAID, and crush any support for it in congress. GOP senators will no longer want to vote for any further funding for USAID and her finance will stall. Next all current employees will either leave or move to the state dept.

As for the effects in Africa. Well we’ve seen this game play out in Mali and Niger. Anti western sentiment grew, coups happened and all the NGOs got chased out. Did insurgency reduce? The opposite happened.

16 years into an insurgency, they still cannot make heads or tails out of an insurgency. They can't identify leaders, they are infiltrated by 5th columnists. Boko Haram is running circles around them.

They claim they need this new equipment new helicopters, new UAV, new aviation arm and they will destroy Bokoharam. Yet they can't still do anything.

Now the new story is that they need 500,000 new soldiers to defeat Boko Haram.

Who are we kidding in this rotten country

114 battalion HQ of the incompetent @HQNigerianArmy has been dislodged and undisclosed number of soldiers were killed and casualties, it's quite unfortunate that many soldiers fighting this bokoharam fight are yet to know that this Boko Haram fight is a government sponsored fight.
MRAPS destroyed, ammunition stolen.

Nig Army 114 Battalion in Bita, Borno state, dislodged and overrun by ISWAP early Tuesday, 11 February. Soldiers have returned to assess the damage done to their equipment, with some carted away by the terrorists. 114 is one of the strongest military formations we have in the NE

Clarification: the dislodged formation is not the 114 Battalion stationed in Bita, but a nearby Company under its command, along Mubi-Michika Road.

Meanwhile the "rehabilitated Boko Haram" are sneaked back into the army and security services

Lol.

But you keep responding,

Like the loyal slave you really are.

Houseboy.

Odunayaw:
You are nothing more than another moniker on Nairaland. Inconsequential.

No attention shall be paid to your excrement. Now go and be a nuisance someplace else

Lol....clowns

How won't it be ipob??

Have u spotted the hateful 9ja delta militant, fulani herdsman, skull miner, boko haram or oduduwa?

That is how u all are and how your low brain works.

Olodo rapata.

Ostrich with head in the sand. Your yansh is exposed omoale.

MiddleDimension:
hateful IPOB spotted.

The United Kingdom is the most evil & poisonous colonial relic of all other european countries.

Even France and Belgium pale in comparison.

This is why the americans fought them and beat them. Now they keep them at arm's length.

Everything directly or indirectly wrong and rotten with the country Nigeria can be traced to the five leperous fingers of the diabolical Brits.

MiddleDimension:
I don't like the whole idea of moving away from the UK, that's our history and we should not put it aside.

We changed the rank of a Brigadier to Brigadier General. Those who were in support of that were like moving away from colonial past. But why move from a ''colonial past'' (which for me is unnecessary), to taking on American style rank?

lol, see the house negro, coon and leviathan..

But you jumped to engage me, abi?.

Who will give your dirty yansh an apology ni... ??

I will keep calling out you & your sycophantic group of low lives on this forum.

All of una know yourselves...

Odunayaw:
I need no apology. An idiot says only what is on his heart, he doesn't care for fact or reason.

If his father is an empty barrel, that's his business. Mine isn't and at best if I cared about his excrement, I'd only tag him a liar.

His place is in the gutters

You break into my house with a revolver.

And you cry foul because i pulled my double barrel from underneath my bed.

My friend, either be fair or you stay clear of the fireworks.

These deranged sycophants are well known to everybody on this page , unless you are new or u are one of them.

tutudesz:
Me biased you could've insulted him, without insulting his father honestly.

Look at this house boy bleeting..."antagonizing the south africans".

What's your buisness with my conversation with them

Na dem be your papa Abi dem dey shine your yansh?

My friend face front.

MiddleDimension:
Guy, stop all these!
You are embarrassing us by antagonizing the South Africans.

You are obviously biased otherwise you would have noticed where he 1st insulted me; warranting my response.

This is my problem with you Nigerians, always burying your heads in the sands of tribalism and sycophancy.

Try and follow the straight and narrow path, let the truth set you free.

tutudesz:
Gentlemen!! We are mature enough to reply ourselves without insults.
Rugged7 , you should apologize for insulting his father

You have NO BASIS or BEDROCK for your claims.

South Africa has no current military expertise on anything.

All your engagements have resulted in major fatalities prompting your consistent withdrawals with your tails between your legs.

Sebi na Africa? You are still boy beginners in this game and you will learn more painful lessons.

GreenandGold:
Everyone thinks they're tough until they face South Africans 🤣🤣

As I said to you, South Africa has no interest in fighting an intercountry-war, we have nothing to gain out of it and Kagame knows it, and he's just playing accordingly.

Honestly, the SANDF at this "weakened" state is multitudes stronger than Rwanda at it's best.... Bro, pilots are trained to counter SAM batteries, the Gripen has a literal EW pack built-in just for SAMs, SOF can find SAM batteries and introduce them to the Denel NTW-20 behind enemy lines.

I can explain to you how Rwanda could be sent to the stone ages in a single night of the Gripen and the G5 pounding inside their territory, and their "hardened" troops will have to dig in thousands of mass graves for themselves in either Rwanda or Kivu.

Depressing brown vs depressing green..

Belted brown vs Unbelted green.

The quality of the training and effectiveness of your troops is often much better than preening like a peacock.

Ask the americans...

MiddleDimension:
but I think they are better than the depressing green we wear. Also, that jumper should always be worn with a belt

U no reach, small boy.

Odunayaw:
Return to the gutters where you belong. One would expect sense from an adult but obviously even idiots grow old

Like your father

Odunayaw:
Empty barrel

Very easy to mouth off.

The present SANDF is nowhere comparable to the Apartheid South african Army.

Your army is ill-trained, ill paid, ill-equipped and inexperienced.

Your gripen fleet is practically grounded. The 1 or 2 that can fly will be quickly brought down by Rwandan SAM missiles.

The Rwandan army is a seasoned fighting force with recurrent exposure to the force doctrine right from the Ugandan Bush wars..

That small professional Rwandan army will bring the blundering south african army to it's knees.

Like Kagame told you, fuqq around and find out.

GreenandGold:
As I had stated, if Rwandan/M23 managed to kill a dozen South African troops, then the SA troops took hundreds more on the Rwandan/M23 side....

If we really needed to go to war with them, just a single infantry Division, 6 Gripens, 4 Rooivalks and 3 artillery batteries would send Rwanda into the stone age... I mean, their biggest power station is within the range of the the G5 from the border.. They should thank their Rwandan gods, Cyril is a calm man and the South Africans are not interested in far away wars.

Because , at some point in your life, you have to stop copying your colonialists and start being original.

Same reason americans and some african countries have stopped wearing the british lawyers' peruke/wigs.

MiddleDimension:
Why don't the NA wear this colour anymore?

and also the belt?

This boy, i no be your house help.

The same way u copied that info from zagazola, also copy the more authentic information of how the ACP died.

Your problem will always be how to swallow and propagate government propaganda.

Information is easily available online for you to cross-check your facts.

Anwo specialist sycophants.

This is how u all ended up with the du' nunu brainless half-breed- Buhari and now the drug dealer - T pain.

Odunayaw:
You know this how?

He was shot by the Nigerian military, he died 7 years after from complications related to that gunshot by the army.

They couldn't even fly him abroad for optimal treatment.

A bloody waste of a good officer.

Odunayaw:
ACP Dauda Buba Fika, Boko Haram’s Nightmare, Passes Away

Assistant Commissioner of Police (ACP) Dauda Buba Fika, a revered officer in Nigeria’s fight against Boko Haram, has passed away. He died at the National Hospital, Abuja, at about 3:30 PM on Tuesday.

ACP Fika, known for his bravery and leadership, played a key role in reclaiming several towns in Yobe and Borno states from Boko Haram insurgents. As the Commander of Mopol 41, he led joint security operations that significantly weakened terrorist strongholds, including the liberation of his hometown, Fika, from their grip.

In 2017, he sustained gunshot injuries during an operation in Yobe State, injuries that required prolonged medical treatment until his passing.

Security officials, colleagues, and members of the public have expressed deep sorrow over his death, describing him as a fearless warrior who dedicated his life to restoring peace in Nigeria’s Northeast.

His legacy in counterterrorism efforts remains a testament to his unwavering commitment to national security.

RIP

Copied:
Zagazola

FACTS!!!
When I talk, those rotten government sycophants on this forum think everything is a game and want to shut me up.

Meanwhile men are dying. 22 men + 1 redneck in 1 day!!!

It is CRIMINAL and calls for a court martial of somebody.

Watching the Nigerian army throughout the 16 years of counterinsurgency, one of their weakest points is base defence.
A reasonable army would get some of the best brains to fly in and have table top exercises and seminars on practical base defence tactics.
They would discuss with surrounding west, sahel & central region militaries on the similarity of attacks and implement changes to trainings in depot Nigeria, NDA , TRADOC.and most command and control centres.

bidexiii:
One thing we should have learnt by now and until now there has not been changes and our red necks are not adapting rapidly.
They'll rather spent funds on Gucci head quarters etc. Our F.O.B are not well protected from threats like the deadly V.B.I.E.D. I mean what does it take to have well protected base with enough obstacles , trenches and Hesco Barrier etc.

One would asked, where is our airforce with all the findings they've enjoyed, this are times the ground soldiers needs them the most.

Dont mind them.

When I talk now, the usual suspects will start mouthing off.

Same mistakes over and over again makes the military look incompetent.

How can a VBIED drive all the way straight into the middle of an FOB to explode Where are the obstruction to prevent this? Aren't the FOBs mined to prevent approach?

Where is the aircover, fire support and QRF? U have multiple Tucanos, UAVs and helicopters which should have been scrambled as soon as news of the attack started.

Instead they leave an FOB to defend itself for 2 to 4 hours without cover?

GROSS INVOMPETENCE.

Hulu:
Yes, very intense battle there and watched it over and over again but in it all I never saw the airforce and their new toys there, what went wrong with our military, why is there no synergy among them all to work together when the time comes,
A Colonel should have his own air cover na for christ sake, not just ground forces alone, omo that battle dey intense ooo, but the deaths were unnecessary.

Rwandan Airforce officers just completed training in the Middle East.

On behalf of the Rwanda Defence Force (RDF) leadership, Major General Wilson Gumisiriza, Commander of the Mechanised Infantry Division, this morning briefed the Rwanda Security Forces (RSF) contingent ahead of their deployment to Cabo Delgado Province, Mozambique.

.

lol...Rwanda is taking the South African cowards for a ride...

Paul Kagame
@PaulKagame
I held two conversations this week with President Ramaphosa on the situation in Eastern DRC, including earlier today. What has been said about these conversations in the media by South African officials and President Ramaphosa himself contains a lot of distortion, deliberate attacks, and even lies. If words can change so much from a conversation to a public statement, it says a lot about how these very important issues are being managed.

A few important clarifications for the record:

1. The Rwanda Defence Force is an army, not a militia.

2. SAMIDRC is not a peacekeeping force, and it has no place in this situation. It was authorized by SADC as a belligerent force engaging in offensive combat operations to help the DRC Government fight against its own people, working alongside genocidal armed groups like FDLR which target Rwanda, while also threatening to take the war to Rwanda itself.

3. SAMIDRC displaced a true peacekeeping force, the East African Community Regional Force, and this contributed to the failure of the negotiation processes.

4. President Ramaphosa has never given a "warning" of any kind, unless it was delivered in his local language which I do not understand. He did ask for support to ensure the South African force has adequate electricity, food and water, which we shall help communicate.

5. President Ramaphosa confirmed to me that M23 did not kill the soldiers from South Africa, FARDC did.

6. If South Africa wants to contribute to peaceful solutions, that is well and good, but South Africa is in no position to take on the role of a peacemaker or mediator. And if South Africa prefers confrontation, Rwanda will deal with the matter in that context any day.