President Muhammadu Buhari has condemned the constant attacks by bandits on communities in Niger state and its environs, directing the Nigerian Air Force, NAF to deploy its fighter aircrafts towards checking the menace.
The President, who gave the order in a statement issued by his Senior Special Assistant on Media and Publicity, Garba Shehu, in Abuja, described the incessant attacks which claimed several lives in the affected communities as a disaster for the nation.
He directed the deployment of air power to support troops and policemen deployed to the difficult terrain to counter the menace of the attackers operating in the forest area bordering Kaduna, Niger and Zamfara States.
In line with this directive, according to the presidential aide, the Nigerian Air Force is setting up refueling facilities at Minna, Niger State, to support the air operations.Shehu added that relevant military authorities had assured the President that given the improved weather conditions, a major exercise to ‘visually acquire targets’ and launch attacks would soon follow
