18th July, 2018
The Bayelsa Mobility Command of the Nigerian Air Force (NAF) has pledged more collaboration with sister security agencies to free Niger Delta from criminal activities.
AVM Napoleon Bali, the new Air Officer Commanding (AOC), Mobility Command, made the pledge while taking over the command on Wednesday in Yenagoa.
Bali took over as the 10th AOC of the Command from AVM Stephen Onu, who has retired after 35 years of service.
The new AOC had served as Director of Operations, Defence Headquarters, Abuja, from January to June 2017.
He had also served as Director of training, NAF headquarters, from June 2017 to Feb. 2018, and later redeployed as Director of operations in February; a position he held before his current appointment as AOC, Bayelsa Mobility Command.
Bali said that more synergy between the command, the army, the Navy and police, became necessary due to the peculiar security challenges in the region and other parts of the country.
“We are going to collaborate with the sister agencies and ensure that we assist and add value to what they have been doing in the maintenance of law and order, as well as freeing Niger-Delta from criminals.
“So, I am here to work and add value to whatever security arrangements that have been in place in the state, and the region at large vis-a-vis the Operation Delta Safe. The Navy and Army are already here.
“We are going to start up with what they have done and ensure that the law abiding citizens go about their normal business without fear; I urge my men to be loyal and improve professionalism, “ Bali said.
The outgoing AOC,AVM Stephen Onu, thanked the officers and men of the command for their co-operation, and urged them to extend the same support to the newly-appointed commander.
Onu said this would enable the incoming commander to consolidate on the achievements the command witnessed during his tenure.