The Nigerian Air Force has denied making payment to bandits in exchange for an anti-aircraft gun seized from the Nigerian Army.
In a statement on Sunday by its spokesperson, Air Commodore, Edward Gabkwet, NAF said there was no truth in the report.
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The Wall Street Journal had reported that the Nigerian Air Force coordinated ransom payments to bandits in exchange for an anti-aircraft gun seized from the Nigerian Army.
The report added that the deal was brokered as Major General President Muhammadu ( retd) Buhari was planning a trip to Katsina.
The U.S. outlet said N20m was delivered to the bandits in Rugu Forest by a Nigerian Air Force official, who leaked details of the operation under anonymity, because the military realised that it would be too risky to leave the weapon in the hands of violent criminals operating in an area the presidential jet would fly over.
“The mission to buy back the antiaircraft gun began with a handoff from a high-ranking air force intelligence officer in the capital Abuja; a black zip-up bag he said was full of N20m,” the paper reported, after stating that such military hardware in the hands of bandits “posed a threat to President Muhammadu Buhari, who had been planning to fly to his hometown about 80 miles away.”
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The NAF in the statement titled, ‘NAF did not make any payment to bandit in exchange for weapons,’ said , “NAF wishes to categorically state that there is absolutely no iota of truth in the spurious allegation that was undoubtedly designed to cast aspersions on the good image of the service. The said report is totally false. It should therefore be taken as fake news and disregarded.”
The statement added, “For the avoidance of doubt, it must be stated that there is no basis for the NAF to pay bandits or any criminal elements that it has continued to attack and decimate in Katsina State, other parts of the North-West as well as other Theatres of Operation in the country.
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“Indeed, as recent as October 12 2021, NAF aircraft conducted five missions in the Jibia general area and engaged targets with rockets and cannons at Bala Wuta bandits’ locations in Kadaoji.
“Similar successes were recorded at Fakai Dutsin Anfare, an area in Jibia LGA known for its high incidences of bandits’ activities. The false reportage therefore, begs the question as to why the NAF would negotiate for a weapon allegedly seized and still carry out air interdiction missions on the same bandits and their strongholds.
“The NAF is of the view that, this latest false report could be a part of a campaign to further the cause of insecurity in Nigeria by elements who see the NAF as a threat following series of successful exploits in operations against criminal gangs.”
©ControlTV2021.
