His Excellency Cui Jianchun, the Chinese Ambassador to Nigeria, paid a ‘thank you’ visit to Air Marshal Oladayo Amao, the Chief of the Air Staff (CAS), at the Nigerian Air Force Headquarters on December 20, 2022, for the successful rescue of 7 Chinese mine workers at Birnin Gwari, Kaduna State.
This was revealed in a news release issued on December 21, 2022, in Abuja by Air Commodore Edward Gabkwet, Director of Public Relations and Information for the Nigerian Air Force.
While expressing his gratitude to the CAS for his leadership, which has resulted in the NAF operational forces’ dedication to the counter-terrorism activities, Ambassador Jianchun praised the NAF Special Forces for their high degree of professionalism in carrying out the rescue mission.
“From what I understand, your Special Forces behaved themselves in the most professional manner deserving of respect and emulation,” the Ambassador said. This was made feasible by the competent leadership that the Nigerian Air Force and, in fact, the Nigerian Armed Forces currently possess.
In response, Air Marshal Amao told the ambassador that the Nigerian Armed Forces (NAF), along with other security organizations in the nation, remain dedicated to fostering a peaceful and secure environment for both Nigerians and foreigners to prosper, and that they will not stop until all areas are free of terrorists and other criminal elements.
“Nigeria stays open to all foreigners who wish to come and invest, and they can be rest assured of their safety as we will continue to ensure that our country remains attractive for foreign investors,” CAS reaffirmed to the ambassador.
Recall that on December 17, 2022, early in the morning, the 271 Nigerian Air Force (NAF) Detachment in Birnin Gwari, Kaduna State, conducted out a rescue operation that resulted in the release of 7 Chinese expatriates who had been abducted and held captive by terrorists operating in the general area.
The Chinese victims that were freed were abducted in June 2022 while working at a mining site in Ajata-Aboki, Gurmana Ward of Shiroro Local Government, Niger State, by militants.
