The Nigerian Air Force on Sunday has issued a statement denying claims by a US- based online publication from Wall Street Journal over certain allegations of paying bandits in exchange for an anti aircraft truck.
According to the U.S. outlet the operation was leaked by a Nigerian Air Force intelligence officer who delivered the ransom in cash in Jibia Local Government Area of Mr Buhari’s home Katsina State.
In a statement made available on the 17th of October, 2021,
Nigerian Air Force (NAF) , through its spokesman Air Commodore Edward Gabkwet, said it has been drawn to news reports circulating on some media platforms alleging that the NAF, through one of its personnel, paid the sum of N20 Million to armed bandits operating in Jibia Local Government Area (LGA) of Katsina State in exchange for an anti-aircraft gun allegedly seized. The report went on to state that the reason behind the payment was to retrieve the anti-aircraft gun which, it alleged, the NAF feared could be used against aircraft operating within Katsina State.
The NAF stated 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. It called the report totally false and should therefore be taken as fake news and disregarded. The statement re-echoed and reaffirmed the NAF’s unflinching commitment to decisively dealing with the armed bandits and all other criminal elements in the Country in partnership with other services of the Armed Forces and other security Agencies.
He also said there was no basis for 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.
Reeling out their successes, it said that recently,on 12 October 2021 , NAF aircraft conducted 5 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 NAF said 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.
NAF also used the opportunity to appeal to members of the media, both local and international, as well as social media, to be circumspect in their reportage and endeavour to always verify their facts before going public and equally enjoined the public to disregard the falsehood emanating from some sections of the social and mainstream media, while calling on citizens to continue to cooperate with security agencies as efforts are ongoing to rid the entire Nation of criminals and their activities.
