President Muhammadu Buhari has ordered air strikes against bandits, kidnappers and cattle rustlers in forested areas bordering Niger, Kaduna and Zamfara states.
This followed the attack on a community in Niger State which left 11 people dead.
President Buhari described the repeated attacks in Niger, Kaduna and Zamfara as a “disaster”, and said air raids “remain the best approach given the lack of motorised roads in the areas constantly under attack”.
“In line with this directive, the Nigerian Air Force is setting up refueling facilities at Minna, Niger State to support the aircraft operations, giving assurances that given the improved weather conditions, a major exercise to “visually acquire targets” and launch attacks will soon follow.
“The Niger State Police Command has 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.
President Buhari commiserates with the government and people of Niger State following the attacks and the loss of lives that followed, and assures that victim communities in the state will not be abandoned by the rest of the country,” a statement from the presidency said.
