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From Olanrewaju Lawal Birnin Kebbi
Kebbi State Governor, Nasir Idris, has sought the establishment of a permanent Nigerian Air Force Operational base in the state to curb the infiltration of Lakurawa terrorists and bandits in the state.
Idris stated this while addressing the Chief of the Air Staff, Air-Marshal Hassan Bala Abubakar and his team, who paid him visit at Government House, Birnin Kebbi.
The Governor noted that the state has partnered with various security agencies by providing some vehicles and other logistic to ease their operations which have reduced insecurity in some parts of the state.
He explained that during the terrorists attacks,aircrafts are important to neutralise the Lakurawa group when the ground troops are battling them.
According to him, “ we are ready to partner with you as we partner with the Nigerian Army. Because of insecurity situation in Niger Republic and Benin Republic. We need the Air Force Base in Kebbi because we have our Airport and it is one of the best in the Northwest and Northern Nigeria.
“As a responsible government, we can not be folding our arms and be seeing our people having security challenges. We must partner with you.”
Idris informed the Chief of the Air Staff that Kebbi State is currently sharing borders with Niger Republic and Benin Republic, where the Lakurawa terrorists are very active, stressing that, the terrorists usually attacks towns and villages in Kebbi from Sokoto, Zamfara and Niger State where they have their cells.
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He disclosed that,on many occasions,the Aircrafts have been assisting the troops on ground to neutralise many bandits, adding that if they have permanent base in the system,it would help the soldiers alot.
“So, the Chief of Air Staff,we want to appeal to you , you should look at the possibility of setting up a base in Kebbi state “.
Early, the Chief of Air Staff, Air-Marshal, Hassan Bala Abubakar informed the Governor that he was in the state to assess the security situation in the state and how their special operations forces are doing in the state.
He noted that, Kebbi State are strategic State in the country in the area of agriculture, economy, development stressed that by sharing boundaries with two countries and part of the Northwest states in the country,the state could not be left alone with the current insecurity challenges.
“Therefore,we have concern over the attacks of Lakurawa in the state and if we don’t checkmate them now,they will disrupt the peace and development in Kebbi state being experienced for a long time “.
Abubakar commended President Bola Tinubu for creating an enabling environment for the NAF with the purchased of more aircrafts with existing ones for effective service to the country.
He declared the readiness of NAF to partner with Kebbi state to curb insecurity in the state and Nigeria at large.
