Rep warns: Bandits may destroy NAF $496m Tucano fighter jets
A member of the House of Representatives, Jafaru Muhammad, has raised the alarm that bandits may attack and destroy the A-29 Super Tucano fighter jets which the United States recently delivered to Nigeria.
The Federal Government had procured 12 units of the military aircraft at the cost $496m.
At the plenary on Tuesday, Muhammad moved a motion to decry the activities of bandits in parts of Niger State.
Moving the motion titled, ‘Need to address incessant banditry attacks at Agwara/Borgu Federal Constituency of Niger State,’ the lawmaker lamented the frequent attacks on communities within Agwara/Borgu Federal Constituency in Niger State by bandits.
He also noted that communities in Babanna and Malale Wards, some parts of Wawa, Shagunu and Pissa/Kabe Wards in Borgu Local Government Areas as well as Mago town in Agwara Local Government were “massively attacked by bandits, who destructed houses and valuable properties on weekly basis.
Muhammad said, “The House is worried that during the attacks, many people, including the district head of Wawa and the aged mother of a serving member of the Niger State House of Assembly were abducted, while others, including the district head of Dekare and many guards at Kainji National Park, were killed.
“The House is further worried that Nigeria’s Super Tucano fighter jets, which are being kept at the 407 Air Weapon Training School, New Bussa, are exposed to the risk of getting destroyed, given its proximity to the location of bandits at the Kainji National Park in the Borgu Game Reserve.
“The House is concerned that the Correctional Centre, which is situated in 221 and 101 Battalions and has some insurgents incarcerated therein poses great risk to public safety, lives and properties in the areas within the constituency.”
Adopting the motion, the House urged the Federal Government to deploy sufficient military personnel to 221 and 101 battalions in Wawa and 407 Air Weapon Training School New Bussa to protect lives and national assets.
The House also urged the National Agricultural Land Development Authority and the Federal Ministry of Industry, Trade and Investment to convert a greater part of the Kainji National Park for agriculture and commercial investment to eliminate hideouts for bandits.
The House further urged the Federal Government to provide training and equipment to the National Park Rangers to aid in securing the area, while calling on the Federal Ministry of Humanitarian Affairs, Disaster Management and Social Development and the National Emergency Management Agency to provide relief materials to the victims of banditry attacks within Agwara/Borgu Federal Constituency. Punch
