President Muhammadu Buhari has ordered the Nigerian Air Force to flush out bandits terrorizing communities in Niger State by bombing their hideouts.
Senior Special Assistant on Media and Publicity, Malam Garba Shehu, who disclosed this in a statement on Sunday, said the President condemned the repeated attacks by bandits on communities in Niger state and its environs.
Buhari described the repeated attacks which led to loss of lives in the affected communities “as a disaster for the nation.”
Consequently, he directed the Air Force to deploy its fighter jets to the area to support troops and policemen deployed to the “difficult terrain,” to counter the menace of the attackers operating in the forest area bordering Kaduna, Niger and Zamfara states.
In line with the President’s directive, Garba said the Nigerian Air Force has begun setting up refueling facilities at Minna, Niger state, to support the air operations.
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He said that relevant military authorities had assured the President that given the improved weather conditions, a major exercise to “visually acquire targets” and launch attacks would soon follow.
“President Buhari has received assurances that with the harmattan dust gradually easing its hold on the skies, fighter aircraft would this week join the efforts to provide effective air attacks against bandits, kidnappers and cattle rustlers that have been attacking remote communities around Dogon Gona forest in Niger State,” the presidential aide stated.
Furthermore, he said the Police Command in Niger had equally given assurances that “the planned dedicated air raids to complement the police helicopter gunship operations remain the best approach given the lack of motorized roads in the areas constantly under attack”.
Meanwhile, the President has commiserated with the government and people of Niger State over the attacks and loss of lives, assuring that affected communities would not be abandoned by the rest of the country.
