Why Fighter Aircraft Acquired By Buhari’s Government Have Failed To Stop Insurgency, Banditry



From the records, the latest arrival of military aircraft into the country was last week when three JF-17 Thunder Fighter Jets from Pakistan arrived in Nigeria.

The President Muhammadu Buhari’s government has purchased no fewer than 32 fighter aircraft for the military since 2015 when it came to power while the Boko Haram insurgency, banditry and herdsmen raged in the country.

SaharaReporters learnt from military records that the fighter jets and helicopters within the six years were purchased from Austria, Italy, Pakistan, Russia and the United States.

The 32 total platforms exclude the 12 Super Tucano fighter aircraft still expected from the United States which would start arriving from June 2021 according to the Presidency earlier this month.

However, despite the increasing fighter aircraft purchased by the government, the insecurity situation in the country has worsened with the Boko Haram developing a more deadly faction – the Islamic State West African Province fighters – both of whom have continued to attack towns and communities in the highly vulnerable Borno and Yobe states.

From the records, the latest arrival of military aircraft into the country was last week when three JF-17 Thunder Fighter Jets from Pakistan arrived in Nigeria.

SaharaReporters learnt from records that the three JF-17 were purchased in a $184 million deal between both countries.

“The fighter jets are supersonic aircraft that can perform day and night all-weather air to air and air to ground missions, including strategic strike and interdiction,” a military expert revealed.

From the military breakdown, the 32 aircraft acquired by the Buhari administration in its unsuccessful bid to quell insecurity were: “five DA40 Light aircraft from Austria acquired in 2017; six A-109K Light helicopters – armed AW109M version – purchased in 2018 and delivered in 2019.

“Also, 10 Super Mushshak MFI-17 Supporter trainer aircraft acquired between 2016 and 2018, and seven Mi-35M Combat helicopter and Mi-8MT/MI-17 transport helicopter from Russia delivered between 2017 and 2020. Also from the United States, Nigeria purchased four Alpha Jet trainer and combat aircraft between 2014 and 2018.”

SaharaReporters learnt that most of the platforms are deployed to the North-East and operate from the Air Task Force headquarters of Operation Lafiya Dole in Yola, Adamawa State.

“It is not about the many platforms we have – insurgency and banditry also require political solutions. The platforms are at an excruciating cost to the country and its fragile economy, but it is good for military exploration.

“The military acts based on orders – and sometimes, the Federal Government refuses to give orders to attack certain places where the problem is rife.

“The number of aircraft acquired will only be for fun until the political leadership is ready to tackle the actors behind insecurity in Nigeria,” a top officer at the Defence Headquarters, Abuja, said in an interview with SaharaReporters.

https://saharareporters.com/2021/03/29/exclusive-why-fighter-aircraft-acquired-buhari%E2%80%99s-government-have-failed-stop-insurgency


Lalasticlala

They don’t want to use the fighter jets on bandits. They want to use it to fight Nigerians asking for a new nation. All these war equipments they have secured are in the interests of Northern Fulani Armies. Don’t forget they have first hand intel that some Nigerians are trying to break away from Nigeria. Hence the needs for training different categories of armies, including sharia police, bandits, boko haram and, the systemic flushing out of Southerners in the Nigerian army.

So they plan on using these fighter jets to fight us but we will surprise them. Ogbon Ju agbara lo. “Wisdom is greater than power”

No they won't deploy them to attack bandits and terrorists.

Orlu is there problem ,they are deploying it against igbos and innocent ESN.

had it been Boko Haram terrorists were from the east the Nigerian government will be raining load's of bombs in the east everyday till it levelled

everything under buhari has failed,

See how ignorants above me are commenting without little knowledge of NAF operations. You all need to stop dwelling on Nairaland for news and read how frequently NAF raid bandits & BH depending on ground forces need of air support & how NA & NAF synergize their operation.

Simply because both the terrorists and the Nigerian military all share the same commander-in-chief.Take a look @ these statements and fathom it out.;

Coronabirus:
See how ignorants above me are commenting without little knowledge of NAF operations. You all need to stop dwelling on Nairaland for news and read how frequently NAF raid bandits & BH depending on ground forces need of air support & how NA & NAF synergize their operation.

Which operations? Are we living in an alien world? Abi, the operation you will hear that NAF/NA only straffed/ eliminate the same terrorists when they launch deadly assault with attendant lost of lives? An army that is capturing Shekau's koran, BH flag, supercamp or farm?

Where were you when Maj.Gen.Adeniyi & soldiers complained of their helpless state in the warfront and pronto they court marshalled them? The Chadian and Nigerien armies inflicted maximum damage on BH-didnt we all saw it?

Chad court marshalled and sentenced about 20 BH terrorists to death & ensure they were executed.Imagine it were in Nigeria.So stop making silly excuses for a failed military under a failed government

Meanwhile Lai Mohammed's lies continue to be bursted

The Minister of Information and Culture, Lai Mohammed, recently claimed that Nigeria has remained at the mercy of terrorists because global partners denied attempts by the country to acquire platforms and weapons to fight the terrorists.

VERDICT: Misleading. There is evidence of Nigeria’s purchase of weapons and platforms from different countries. Though the United States blocked Nigeria’s weapon purchases in 2014 due to alleged human rights violations, President Trump overturned the arms embargo in 2018. It is misleading to attribute Nigeria’s inability to end terrorism and armed banditry to such denials since the country has been importing platforms, arms and ammunition from several other countries.

"Nigeria at the mercy of terrorists because global partners denied attempts by the country to acquire platforms and weapons to fight the terrorists."
https://www.google.com/amp/s/www.vanguardngr.com/2020/11/borno-killings-nigeria-at-the-mercy-of-terrorists-were-being-denied-weapons-lai-mohammed/amp/

Versus Femi Adeshina
Nigerian Security Agencies Do Not Lack Equipment – Femi Adesina
http://saharareporters.com/2020/08/11/nigerian-security-agencies-do-not-lack-equipment-

Simple solution to curing the analog syndrome in the army: make the first 50% of recruitment be by merit and the rest by quota. How can dullards operate fighter jets that sophisticated beyond the brain?