The Federal Government has announced plans to enhance its anti-banditry operations by acquiring 50 new aircraft set to arrive between now and next year. This initiative aims to bolster security efforts in the North-West region and across Nigeria as terrorists have occupied the Kainji National Park in Niger State.
The Chief of Air Staff, Marshal Bala Abubakar, disclosed on Wednesday that the air fleet will include 12 AH-1 attack helicopters, 24 M-346 attack aircraft, 12 Augusta Westland 109 helicopters, and two Casa 295 medium airlift aircraft. Abubakar made this announcement during the inauguration of new facilities at the 213 Forward Operational Base in Katsina State.
The facilities include a taxiway link, two aircraft hangars, operation and engineering buildings, a perimeter fence, and a football pitch. Expressing gratitude to the federal and state governments for their support in combating banditry, the air chief praised NAF personnel for their dedication to maintaining peace and security in the region.
He said, “We are also mindful that the remnants of insurgents from Borno and Yobe states might consider moving back to Adamawa through border towns. In this regard, the Nigerian Air Force is intensifying its inner surveillance with a view to taking decisive military action when required to prevent the re-emergence of insurgent activities in the state. Let me use this opportunity to inform your excellency that the Nigerian Air Force is expecting 50 brand new aircraft in its inventory in the next one and a half to two years. And I intend to station some of them right here in Yola.”
On Thursday, the Chief of Army Staff, Lt. Gen. Taoreed Lagbaja, received two newly acquired helicopters at the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport in Abuja. The PUNCH reports that the two new Bell UH-1H helicopters arrived in the country at about 4:30 pm. These helicopters are intended for logistics, surveillance, training, and casualty evacuation, among other uses.
Lagbaja said, “We are on a learning curve in the aviation business. We hope it will be a pleasant experience that will give our troops flexibility in the field and enhance our operational successes. The Nigerian Army is poised to serve the nation better with the acquisition of these platforms. We shall overcome and provide our people with an enabling environment for economic prosperity.” Lagbaja noted that the Army had aimed to establish an aviation wing since 1984, expressing delight that this dream had finally materialized with the acquisition of the two helicopters.
He said, “Aviation has always been a game-changer, and that informs the decision for the Nigerian Army to strive to acquire platforms towards the actualization of the dream of having an army aviation arm since 1984. Today that dream has been actualized. We expect that the support provided to the troops in the field with the acquisition of this utility helicopter, in terms of casualty evacuation, and the supply and insertion of troops in critical areas, will offer greater flexibility and improve operational efficiency in the field.”
The Coordinator, Nigerian Army Aviation, Brig. Gen. M.S. Alkali, said the helicopters would enhance the Army’s reconnaissance, surveillance, and air mobility capabilities. “As we integrate these platforms into our operations, let us also remember that the true strength of our aviation lies in the skilled and courageous personnel who operate and maintain these machines. Their professionalism, dedication, and expertise are the bedrock upon which our success is built,” he said.
In a new report released on Wednesday, the Clingendael Institute, a Dutch think tank, provided evidence that Islamist terrorists from the Sahel region had crossed into Nigeria through the Benin Republic border. The jihad fighters were reported to have settled in Kebbi State and the Kainji National Park, turning the facility into their base.
Reacting to the report, the Director of Defence Media Operations, Maj. Gen. Edward Buba, said the military was not slowing down in its campaign against terrorists across the country. He noted that the objective of the military operations across the country was to destroy the terrorists wherever they were.
Buba said, “The military is fighting the terrorists wherever they exist across the country. Indeed, troops of Operation Whirl Punch are conducting operations in terrorist enclaves in North Central, which includes Kainji Lake Park. Additionally, troops of Operation Hadarin Daji are equally targeting terrorists in Kebbi State and the west of the country. The objective of our operations is to destroy these terrorists and dismantle their military capabilities so citizens are safe and protected.”
The Niger State Commissioner for Homeland Security, Muhammed Bello, could not be reached for comments on Thursday, as calls to his phone indicated it was switched off. A director in the ministry, Dagash Ismail, declined to comment on the presence of ISWAP and other terrorist groups in the state.
The report said the extremists’ motive for settling in Kainji Lake National Park and Kebbi state was unclear. They were believed to be affiliated with various jihadist groups with links to Boko Haram.
The report said, “Violent extremists are present in Kainji Lake National Park just across the border from the Borgou Department. Evidence suggests this involves Sahelian extremists (likely Jama’a Nusrat ul-Islam wa al-Muslimin). Another group would be Darul Salam – a group linked to Boko Haram, if not fully affiliated – with an open attitude towards bandits. There has been a strong increase in the movement of unidentified armed actors along the Borgou border with Niger State and in banditry-related incidents since March 2023. The evidence suggests that there is a direct link with those operating in Kainji Lake National Park.”
It added, “Since March 2023, unidentified armed groups have had a concealed presence in the Forêt de Trois Rivières between southern Alibori and the Borgou Department.” The border region between Nigeria, Niger, and Burkina Faso had been identified as a hotspot for insurgency activities, with various terrorist groups like Al Qaeda and the Islamic State using the region as a staging area to launch attacks on government forces and civilians.
The Clingendael Institute said banditry was re-emerging in zones controlled by the JNIM in Benin, noting that the bandits appeared to have Nigerian connections. The report warned that the jihadists might threaten the well-developed cross-border trade system between the Nigerian and Beninese border.
“This system generates livelihoods for many people in the area. Livelihoods are at risk. There is a variety of markets and crossings connecting Northwest Nigeria and Northern Benin. Unidentified armed groups and Darul Salam operate in these hubs. People’s livelihoods are highly dependent on cross-border trade. Interviews revealed frustration and a strong sense of grievance towards both Nigerian and Beninese government policies that are perceived to put livelihoods under stress,” it further noted.
The report mentioned that the reported ban on cereal exports and soybeans, accompanying border restrictions, and fuel subsidy removal in Nigeria hurt livelihoods in the border area. It noted, “Not only are there numerous indications of extremist activities and a link between bandits and extremists along the border, but there are also clear social links that facilitate cross-border exchange and real livelihood needs that create vulnerabilities to recruitment. The governments of Benin and Nigeria urgently need to take action.”
The institute advised the government to step up the military response by revamping regional security cooperation within the Economic Community of West African States through bilateral security cooperation for “hot-pursuit, intelligence sharing, and coordination; and a joint strategy for cross-border hunting groups.” It also recommended prioritizing people’s livelihoods by cushioning the impact of the ban on cereals and fuel subsidy withdrawal to reduce vulnerability to recruitment. The Dutch organization further advised the government to respond rapidly to changing contexts by closely monitoring border markets for sudden vulnerabilities.
Meanwhile, the communities surrounding Kainji Park have been deserted following the occupation of the facility located in New Bussa, Borgu Local Government Area, by the terrorists and bandits.