The Nigerian Air Force (NAF) has denied a report by an online medium (not News Express), alleging its involvement in the planning of a purported coup d’état to take over the reins of government.

NAF further appealed to those peddling these false stories to cease, as they are constituting a source of distraction to NAF personnel, who are sacrificing on a daily basis to ensure the security of Nigeria.

According to a statement issued on Friday in Abuja by its Director of Public Relations and Information, Air Commodore Olatokunbo Adesanya, “NAF is a highly professional and apolitical Service that is focused on ensuring the territorial integrity of Nigeria as well as facilitating a safe and secure environment for Nigerians to prosper while conducting their legal businesses.”

Adesanya noted that the earlier stance of the NAF on the unfortunate coup rumours has not changed.

He reiterated the Chief of the Air Staff, Air Marshal Sadique Baba Abubakar’s stance on May 18, 2017, while commissioning new residential accommodation for personnel at NAF Base, Bill Clinton Drive Abuja, when he emphatically pledged the loyalty of the NAF to the President and Commander-in-Chief as well as to the Nigerian Constitution.

According to him, “The NAF considers it most ridiculous that anyone in his/her right senses, especially in the 21^st Century, could still be fixated on the possibility of effecting a change in government in Nigeria in any way other than through the ballot box. It appears some individuals with unknown intentions are bent on further spreading the malicious misinformation and hence, the need for the NAF to react.

“The strong belief of the NAF in democratic values was also demonstrated during the recent Gambian crisis. The NAF was the first and only air force that ensured the will of Gambians was not subverted by promptly deploying its fighter aircraft, in addition to its transport aircraft to airlift needed troops and logistics, in readiness to preserve the country’s democracy, in line with the Federal Government’s directives. It is therefore inconceivable that the same NAF would be involved in any way in any attempt to dismantle the political structure in Nigeria.”

Adesanya added: “Chief of the Air Staff would like to assure Nigerians as a whole of the unalloyed loyalty of all NAF personnel to the President and Commander-in-Chief as well as to the Government of Nigeria as democratically constituted.”

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