Headlines
Airforce Denies Payment To Bandits For Return Of Anti-Aircraft Weapon
NAF DID NOT MAKE ANY PAYMENT TO BANDITS IN EXCHANGE FOR WEAPONS
1. The eye of the Nigerian Air Drive (NAF) has been drawn to information experiences circulating on some media platforms alleging that the NAF, by means of one in every of its personnel, paid the sum of N20 Million to armed bandits working in Jibia Native Authorities Space (LGA) of Katsina State in alternate for an anti-aircraft gun allegedly seized. The report went on to state that the explanation behind the fee was to retrieve the anti-aircraft gun which, it alleged, the NAF feared could possibly be used towards plane working inside Katsina State.
2. The NAF needs to categorically state that there’s completely no iota of reality within the spurious allegation that was undoubtedly designed to forged aspersions on the great picture of the Service. The stated report is completely false. It ought to subsequently be taken as pretend information and disregarded. Certainly, we ordinarily wouldn’t have responded to such baseless and completely illogical allegation however for the necessity to set the document straight in addition to reaffirm the NAF’s unflinching dedication to decisively coping with the armed bandits and all different felony parts *within the Nation in partnership with different providers of the Armed Forces and different safety Businesses.*
3. For the avoidance of doubt, it should be acknowledged that there is no such thing as a foundation for the NAF to pay bandits or any felony parts that it has continued to assault and decimate in Katsina State, different components of *the North-West in addition to different Theatres of Operation within the Nation.* Certainly, as latest as *12 October 2021* , NAF plane performed 5 missions within the Jibia common space and engaged targets with rockets and cannons at Bala Wuta bandits’ areas in Kadaoji. Comparable successes have been recorded at Fakai Dutsin Anfare, an space in Jibia LGA recognized for its excessive incidences of bandits’ actions. The false reportage subsequently, begs the query as to why the NAF would negotiate for a weapon allegedly seized and nonetheless perform air interdiction missions on the identical bandits and their strongholds. *The NAF is of the view that, this newest false report could possibly be part of a marketing campaign to additional the reason for insecurity in Nigeria by parts who see the NAF as a risk following sequence of profitable exploits in operations towards felony gangs.*
4. Maybe, this gives an avenue for the NAF to but once more enchantment to members of the media, each native and worldwide, in addition to social media, to be circumspect of their reportage and endeavour to all the time confirm their details earlier than going public. The general public is enjoined to ignore the falsehood emanating from some sections of the social and mainstream media. The NAF additionally makes use of this chance to name on residents to proceed to cooperate with safety companies as efforts are ongoing to rid the whole Nation of criminals and their actions.
5. On our half, the NAF, as an expert and disciplined drive, is not going to in any manner be discouraged from finishing up its mandate to rid the whole North-West Nigeria of banditry and different types of criminality. We stay resolute in performing our perform and can proceed to work in synergy with different sister Companies and safety companies to rid the Nation of all felony parts.
6. Kindly convey this info to the notice of most people.
Edward Gabkwet
Air Commodore
Director of Public Relations and Data
Nigerian Air Drive
