The Nigerian Air Force, NAF, yesterday launched a special counter terrorism exercise code-named ‘Operation Steel Dome’ for all the airports in the country in a bid to institute a force that would be effective in the event of any terror attack in the nation’s airports.
The first simulation exercise of the operation held with military commandos from the Nigerian Air Force Regiment, the Nigerian Army, the Navy and other security agencies at the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport, Abuja.
The Chief of Air Staff, CAS, Air Marshal Sadique Abubakar told journalists, shortly after the exercise at the Abuja Airport, that Steel Dome was designed to put in place a force that would be effective in the event of any attack in the nation’s airports.
Abubakar explained that the simulation exercise was put in place to ensure that there were no gaps in operational plans in the event that such rescue operations became necessary in the nation’s airports.
He stated that the counter-terrorism simulation exercise which involved a mock rescue operation for passengers held hostage by terrorists would be repeated in all the airports in the country.
The Air Force Chief stated that the Service would carry out the next round of counter terrorism simulation exercise at the Murtala Mohammed International Airport, Lagos, the Port Harcourt International Airport, the Aminu Kano International Airport and others.
He assured that NAF had enough trained special forces to carry out the exercise at airports.
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