DHQ Seeks To Crush Bandits With Tucano Jets, Laments US Condition by Islie: 8:19am On Oct 20, 2021 |
More facts have emerged on why the Armed Forces have yet to deploy their full arsenal against bandits who have dominated the North-West and parts of the North-Central geopolitical zones.
The PUNCH reliably learnt on Monday that the Armed Forces told the National Assembly, through its committees, that the agreement signed with the Government of the United States was that the A-29 Super Tucano fighter jets procured from the country would be deployed against terrorists and insurgents, and not bandits.
Several sources in the National Assembly, who are in the know of the development, said the complaints by the service chiefs led to the recent demand by the Senate and the House of Representatives that bandits should be designated as terrorists.
The PUNCH had reported that the Federal Government in February 2018 placed an order for 12 A-29 Super Tucano aircraft at a cost of $496m.
The Nigerian Air Force had on July 22, 2021, taken delivery of the first batch of six aircraft from the United States. The second batch of the planes arrived in Nigeria in September.
A total of 64 pilots and maintainers from the Nigerian Air Force were trained to the US standards with the US Air Force’s 81st Fighter Squadron at Moody Air Base in Georgia, United States.
The training also emphasised the Law of Armed Conflict and civilian casualty mitigation, which are fundamental principles of the Nigerian military’s professional education and training.
Speaking to one of our correspondents on the telephone on Monday, a top source in one of the security committees in the National Assembly said the Armed Forces, especially the Nigerian Air Force, had not been able to decimate the bandits due to the conditions attached to deployment of the fighter jets.
The lawmaker said, “Let me tell you the truth. We once asked the Armed Forces why they had not deployed the Tucano in the fight the bandits and one of the service chiefs (name withheld) told us that their hands are tied due to the human rights regulations regarding to the aircraft. He told us that the equipment is meant for the war against terrorists and insurgents and since these are bandits, they cannot be deployed.
Bandits not different from B’Haram, Buhari should implement N’Assembly resolutions – Lawmaker
“He actually told us that once the bandits have been designated as terrorists, they would be wiped out. Don’t forget that the bandits today are not different from Boko Haram, looking at their activities and the gravity of attacks by them. Now that both chambers of the National Assembly have called for the declaration, we urge the President to implement our resolutions.”
Another reliable source in the security committees, who was asked to confirm the information from the first source, said it was true. “We have done what we ought to do, so the ball is no longer in our court,” he stated.
The House of Representatives had on September 30, 2021, asked the President, Major General Muhammadu Buhari (retd.), to designate bandits and their sponsors as terrorists.
The Senate had made the demand the previous day.
Chairman of the House Committee on Defence, Babajimi Benson, who moved a motion of urgent public importance, urged the chamber to back the Senate.
The motion was titled, ‘Declaration of Bandits and their Sponsors as Terrorists.’
Moving the motion, Benson said, “The Senate, on Wednesday, September 29, 2021, adopted a motion asking President Muhammadu Buhari to declare bandits ravaging the northern part of the country terrorists and wage a total war on them. They also asked that the president declare all known leaders of bandits wanted and arrest them wherever they were found for speedy prosecution. Such declaration to be done through a Proscription Order can be done pursuant to Section 2 of the Terrorism Prevention Act, 2011 (As Amended).
“I will like to echo the same sentiment and ask honourable colleagues to join the Senate in urging Mr President to declare bandits and their sponsors as terrorists. This will underline the determination of government to combat the wave of criminality and murders conducted by bandits all over the country.”
He noted that declaring bandits as terrorists could be done through a proscription order.
Benson listed more benefits of declaring the bandits terrorists, noting that such an order will officially bring the activities of bandits and their sponsors within the purview of the Terrorism Prevention Act, while any persons associated with such groups can then be legally prosecuted and sentenced to penalties specified in the Act.
He said, “Declaration of all bandits as terrorist may also encourage other countries to do same and help create a global consensus around dealing with transnational factors that feeds the domestic activities of such proscribed organisations and individuals.”
Chairman of the House Committee on Army, Abdulrazak Namdas, in an interview with one of our correspondents on Monday, stated that the bandits had ticked all the boxes on the indices of terrorism. He, however, denied knowledge of any complaints relating to deployment of the Tucano jets.
Namdas said, “Now that the government has started getting the Tucanos and we have another batch coming, and the morale of the troops at the moment is high; though we had one or two casualties but this is part of a war and there is nowhere in the world that when there is a war, you expect no casualties – it should only be seriously minimised; when you strengthen the security forces and we agree that these bandits are terrorists, then it would give us the opportunity to deal with them, with all the full force.”
Also speaking The PUNCH, Benson said the resolutions by the Senate and the House should have been transmitted to Buhari for consideration and sanction.
He said, “The truth of the matter is that I don’t know if it has been transmitted but I am sure that when the two sides of the National Assembly pass a resolution, it should be given a thorough consideration. And I doubt if the bureaucracy people (National Assembly management) have transmitted it, to reach the attention of Mr President.”
The US had said the A-29 Super Tucano fighter jets would assist Nigeria’s anti-terrorism fight, especially in the north-eastern part of the West African country.
The US Department of Defence leaders had attended the induction ceremony of the Super Tucano jets on August 31.
An inquiry sent to the United States Embassy in Nigeria on whether the Super Tucano should be used only in fighting terrorists had yet to be responded to on Tuesday.
However, in an earlier chat with The PUNCH, acting Public Affairs Counselor, Jeanne Clark, explained that the use of the weapons would be subject to the Leahy vetting, a law which is an American rights law that prohibit the US government from providing military assistance to foreign security force units that violate human rights with impunity.
Clark stated Nigeria is a strategic partner of the US. She added that the US would ensure monitoring to ensure that the weapons are used for their intended purpose.
She said, “We have direct and open communication with the Government of Nigeria regarding our expectation that all security forces be held accountable for protecting civilians and respecting human rights. All Nigerian military personnel trained by the United States are subject to Leahy vetting.
“All potential US defence sales are carefully assessed under the US government’s Conventional Arms Transfer Policy to examine issues, including human rights, regional security, and non-proliferation concerns, to determine whether a sale is in the best foreign policy and national security interests of the United States.
“Review and monitoring are integral components of the process for any US-origin defence articles delivered to any recipient nation. This helps ensure that those articles are used by the intended recipient in the manner intended and consistent with the provisions of the agreement for the foreign military sale.”
When contacted on Tuesday to confirm transmission of the resolution to Buhari, the Senior Special Assistant to the President on National Assembly Matters (House of Reps), Mr Umar el-Yakub, noted that the Clerk to the National Assembly transmits resolutions by the lawmakers directly to the President.
El-Yakub also noted that the liaison officers only convey communications from the President to the National Assembly and are only copied documents transmitted by the parliament on special occasions.
When contacted, the Director of Information, National Assembly’s management, Mr Rawlings Agada, advised The PUNCH correspondent to cross check with him on Wednesday as he did not have any information on the issue yet.
He said, “I don’t have any information yet on what you are asking me but you can crosscheck again tomorrow so that I can make some enquiries for you.”
A Spokesman for the President, Garba Shehu, told The PUNCH to direct inquiries to the Ministry of Defence when he was asked if the refusal of the President to designate bandits as terrorists was preventing the full deployment of the Super Tucano weapons in the North-West.
“Please contact the ministry of defence. They will be the best to answer this. Thank you,” Shehu stated.
In his reaction, the Special Assistant to the Minister of Defence on Media and Publicity, Mohammed Abdulkadri, directed one of our correspondents to the Chief of Defence Staff, Gen. Lucky Irabor.
Also, calls put across to the Spokesman for the Nigerian Air Force, Air Commodore Edward Gabkwet, didn’t connect while a response to a text message sent to him was being awaited as of the time of filing this report. https://punchng.com/dhq-seeks-nod-to-crush-bandits-with-tucano-jets-laments-us-condition/ 1 Like 1 Share
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Re: DHQ Seeks To Crush Bandits With Tucano Jets, Laments US Condition by PrinceOfLagos: 8:21am On Oct 20, 2021 |
They cannot deploy Tucano jets to fight the bandits terrorists in the north, but they can deploy helicopter to the south east to bomb and kill innocent civilians
Useless people 115 Likes 5 Shares |
Re: DHQ Seeks To Crush Bandits With Tucano Jets, Laments US Condition by ChiefSosa(m): 8:21am On Oct 20, 2021 |
Buhari knows what to do, he just doesn't want to do it.He told us that the equipment is meant for the war against terrorists and insurgents and since these are bandits, they cannot be deployed. Imagine this nonsense! 55 Likes 6 Shares |
Re: DHQ Seeks To Crush Bandits With Tucano Jets, Laments US Condition by complexBoss12: 8:22am On Oct 20, 2021 |
![undecided](https://www.nairaland.com/faces/undecided.png) What an irony, bandit/terrorist army seeking order from bandit/terrorist government to bomb (dash tucano jets) to their foot soldiers. Bc next news you will hear now is 5 newly acquired jets were captured by bandits. #Soro soke 23 Likes 3 Shares |
Re: DHQ Seeks To Crush Bandits With Tucano Jets, Laments US Condition by Aufbauh(m): 8:26am On Oct 20, 2021 |
1 Like |
Re: DHQ Seeks To Crush Bandits With Tucano Jets, Laments US Condition by Nobody: 8:28am On Oct 20, 2021 |
Terrorist sorry bandit loving government told media to report declining insecurity instead of declining security. 12 Likes 2 Shares |
Re: DHQ Seeks To Crush Bandits With Tucano Jets, Laments US Condition by omowolewa: 8:29am On Oct 20, 2021 |
Thought Chief Lia said they were deployed already 9 Likes |
Re: DHQ Seeks To Crush Bandits With Tucano Jets, Laments US Condition by AntiBMC(m): 8:34am On Oct 20, 2021 |
Islie:
Speaking to one of our correspondents on the telephone on Monday, a top source in one of the security committees in the National Assembly said the Armed Forces, especially the Nigerian Air Force, had not been able to decimate the bandits due to the conditions attached to deployment of the fighter jets.
The lawmaker said, “Let me tell you the truth. We once asked the Armed Forces why they had not deployed the Tucano in the fight the bandits and one of the service chiefs (name withheld) told us that their hands are tied due to the human rights regulations regarding to the aircraft. He told us that the equipment is meant for the war against terrorists and insurgents and since these are bandits, they cannot be deployed.
https://punchng.com/dhq-seeks-nod-to-crush-bandits-with-tucano-jets-laments-us-condition/
So in other words, the tucano jets are for biafrans whom the Fulani govt quickly proscribed and tagged terrorists; but Fulani terrorists who have taken over Niger state and Borno, killed countless people/soldiers and even shot down planes are mere bandits and small criminals? Issoryt. 37 Likes 2 Shares |
Re: DHQ Seeks To Crush Bandits With Tucano Jets, Laments US Condition by Blackfire(m): 9:03am On Oct 20, 2021 |
Bandits are not that bad... you can't know more than the president...
Now that been said
I think all arsenal should be directed to the old Eastern region and SW
North2023 North2023 North2023 North2023 2 Likes |
Re: DHQ Seeks To Crush Bandits With Tucano Jets, Laments US Condition by Patrioticman007(m): 9:11am On Oct 20, 2021 |
"An inquiry sent to the United States Embassy in Nigeria on whether the Super Tucano should be used only in fighting terrorists had yet to be responded to on Tuesday".
It seems our Neocolonial masters don't want their market of weapons sales to war zones in Africa to close too early. Even if crush down bandits the agents of destruction will raise another security challenge for our country to continue buying the arms. 7 Likes 1 Share |
Re: DHQ Seeks To Crush Bandits With Tucano Jets, Laments US Condition by FactBoyz: 9:11am On Oct 20, 2021 |
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Re: DHQ Seeks To Crush Bandits With Tucano Jets, Laments US Condition by nairaman66(m): 9:12am On Oct 20, 2021 |
Lie Mohammed said all are working and on air currently in the north! That man has brought untold shame and disgrace to his family.. Just one man-
Lies, cheat, steals, slander, turncoat, two timing birdbrain. Does this man have any humanity? 23 Likes 3 Shares |
Re: DHQ Seeks To Crush Bandits With Tucano Jets, Laments US Condition by updatechange(m): 9:12am On Oct 20, 2021 |
Awon Weyrey! Soft landing as usual 4 Likes |
Re: DHQ Seeks To Crush Bandits With Tucano Jets, Laments US Condition by richmond500: 9:12am On Oct 20, 2021 |
PrinceOfLagos: They cannot deploy Tucano jets to fight the bandits terrorists in the north, but they can deploy helicopter to the south east to bomb and kill innocent civilians
Useless people can u show us evidence that helicopter was sent to bomb the SE? 7 Likes |
Re: DHQ Seeks To Crush Bandits With Tucano Jets, Laments US Condition by Fasz24: 9:13am On Oct 20, 2021 |
complexBoss12: ![undecided](https://www.nairaland.com/faces/undecided.png)
What an irony, bandit/terrorist army seeking order from bandit/terrorist government to bomb (dash tucano jets) to their foot soldiers. Bc next news you will hear now is 5 newly acquired jets were captured by bandits.
#Soro soke |
Re: DHQ Seeks To Crush Bandits With Tucano Jets, Laments US Condition by Nobody: 9:13am On Oct 20, 2021 |
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Re: DHQ Seeks To Crush Bandits With Tucano Jets, Laments US Condition by mainman7(m): 9:14am On Oct 20, 2021 |
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Re: DHQ Seeks To Crush Bandits With Tucano Jets, Laments US Condition by Cryptokudi07: 9:14am On Oct 20, 2021 |
Something wey dem do take Pursue una comot office. |
Re: DHQ Seeks To Crush Bandits With Tucano Jets, Laments US Condition by BruncleZuma: 9:14am On Oct 20, 2021 |
Who wake up name terrorists "bandits"...shey nah una without any special requirements name IPOB a Terrorist Organisation? 1 Like |
Re: DHQ Seeks To Crush Bandits With Tucano Jets, Laments US Condition by cutievik: 9:14am On Oct 20, 2021 |
This is simply..It has been discussed on a military discussions group I belong to, they suggested that we either designate them as terriosts or we make use of the Alpha jets/JF 17 and MBA for the now. The Tucano's would have been better because of the cost effectiveness and their loiter time, they can stay on their enemy or ISR for 7hours. That's crazy.
The Leahy's law is overburdening for Nigeria. If the Afghanistan Army did half of what the Nigerian Military had done with all their weapons Taliban wouldn't have overran the country. We patriots know we are grateful for their service and sacrifices.
I would love you to join our non toxic group on Telegram, just search 'Battlefieldgroup01' on google and join or send a message to @Farmer95 on telegram. It would be great to have your inputs on our military discussions group. Nigeria would overcome. 3 Likes |
Re: DHQ Seeks To Crush Bandits With Tucano Jets, Laments US Condition by SensualMan1(m): 9:14am On Oct 20, 2021 |
Bullhari will not allow that. You want to finish his people? 5 Likes 3 Shares |
Re: DHQ Seeks To Crush Bandits With Tucano Jets, Laments US Condition by simple250: 9:14am On Oct 20, 2021 |
Declare them as terrorists very simple, but 2023 is here you politicians need their support, so continue to treat them with kids gloves . I just pity soldiers that are risking their lives. 7 Likes 1 Share |
Re: DHQ Seeks To Crush Bandits With Tucano Jets, Laments US Condition by Paperbag(m): 9:15am On Oct 20, 2021 |
Na wa Like this i rather be a demon than be born into Africa or Nigeria in my next life ![cry](https://www.nairaland.com/faces/cry.gif) |
Re: DHQ Seeks To Crush Bandits With Tucano Jets, Laments US Condition by davodyguy: 9:15am On Oct 20, 2021 |
The lawmaker said, “Let me tell you the truth. We once asked the Armed Forces why they had not deployed the Tucano in the fight the bandits and one of the service chiefs (name withheld) told us that their hands are tied due to the human rights regulations regarding to the aircraft. He told us that the equipment is meant for the war against terrorists and insurgents and since these are bandits, they cannot be deployed Until they are called Terrorists. 1 Like |
Re: DHQ Seeks To Crush Bandits With Tucano Jets, Laments US Condition by Ppogbae: 9:15am On Oct 20, 2021 |
So why not purchase fighter jets from a country that does not use human rights concerns as a precondition? Why are Nigerians leaders so intellectually bereft? 7 Likes 3 Shares |
Re: DHQ Seeks To Crush Bandits With Tucano Jets, Laments US Condition by affable4(m): 9:16am On Oct 20, 2021 |
Simply change the name if you are sincere to yourself.
You called killers bandits and called agitators terrorists. Meaning Tucano can be used on 'agitators' but not on 'bandits' who are the real terrorist..
I just hate the dumb people ruling this country. 11 Likes 3 Shares |
Re: DHQ Seeks To Crush Bandits With Tucano Jets, Laments US Condition by dallyemmy: 9:16am On Oct 20, 2021 |
...WHO B D BAN DIT? |
Re: DHQ Seeks To Crush Bandits With Tucano Jets, Laments US Condition by seunlayi(m): 9:16am On Oct 20, 2021 |
Thank you USA, you've tried is just that our country is cursed. Can you imagine this excuses from our govt?
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Re: DHQ Seeks To Crush Bandits With Tucano Jets, Laments US Condition by guuudy87(m): 9:16am On Oct 20, 2021 |
It's clear you don't know the difference between a jet and helicopter PrinceOfLagos: They cannot deploy Tucano jets to fight the bandits terrorists in the north, but they can deploy helicopter to the south east to bomb and kill innocent civilians
Useless people 4 Likes |