NAF speaks on paying N20m to avoid shooting down Buhari’s plane

However, how would the average Nigerian believe the denial when many negotiations have been done with terrorists like Boko Haram in the past which included paying of ransoms either by proxy or otherwise, to the extent of granting some of them amnesty.

Henry Charles N. Umelechi

 

The Nigerian Air Force has denied a report by the Wall Street Journal that it paid N20m as ransom to bandits in exchange for an anti-aircraft gun seized from the Nigerian Army.

A statement on Sunday by the spokesperson, Air Commodore Edward Gabkwet, said there was no truth in the report.

The statement was titled, “NAF DID NOT MAKE ANY PAYMENT TO BANDITS IN EXCHANGE FOR WEAPONS”

It read, “The attention of the Nigerian Air Force has been drawn to news reports circulating on some media platforms alleging that the NAF, through one of its personnel, paid the sum of N20 Million to armed bandits operating in Jibia Local Government Area of Katsina State in exchange for an anti-aircraft gun allegedly seized.

The report went on to state that the reason behind the payment was to retrieve the anti-aircraft gun which, it alleged, the NAF feared could be used against aircraft operating within Katsina State.

“The NAF wishes to categorically state that there is absolutely no iota of truth in the spurious allegation that was undoubtedly designed to cast aspersions on the good image of the Service.

“The said report is totally false. It should therefore be taken as fake news and disregarded. Indeed, we ordinarily would not have responded to such baseless and utterly illogical allegation but for the need to set the record straight as well as reaffirm the NAF’s unflinching commitment to decisively dealing with the armed bandits and all other criminal elements in the Country in partnership with other services of the Armed Forces and other security Agencies.

“For the avoidance of doubt, it must be stated that there is no basis for the NAF to pay bandits or any criminal elements that it has continued to attack and decimate in Katsina State, other parts of the North-West as well as other Theatres of Operation in the Country.

The NAF is of the view that, this latest false report could be a part of a campaign to further the cause of insecurity in Nigeria by elements who see the NAF as a threat following series of successful exploits in operations against criminal gangs.”

However, how would the average Nigerian believe the denial when many negotiations have been done with terrorists like Boko Haram in the past which included paying of ransoms either by proxy or otherwise, to the extent of granting some of them amnesty.

For instance, on March 25 2018, the minister of information Lai Mohammed announced that “the government is negotiating with Boko Haram for a possible ceasire…”

Also on March 21 2018, contrary to the claims of two ministers of President Muhammadu Buhari, SaharaReporters reported that a handsome ransom of five million euros was paid to Boko Haram to secure the release of Dapchi girls freed by the insurgents early Wednesday morning.

Now, if Buhari’s government could pay such a ransom, how would you convince the average Nigerian that NAF which a security agency in Buhari’s government, did not pay 20 million Naira to keep  President Buhari’s life secured?

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