Jungle Journalist Media Limited
  • News
  • Politics
  • Economy and Business
  • Sports
  • Editorial
  • Education
  • entertainment
  • Health
  • Niger Delta
  • Security
No Result
View All Result
  • News
  • Politics
  • Economy and Business
  • Sports
  • Editorial
  • Education
  • entertainment
  • Health
  • Niger Delta
  • Security
No Result
View All Result
Jungle Journalist Media Limited
No Result
View All Result
  • News
  • Politics
  • Economy and Business
  • Sports
  • Editorial
  • Education
  • entertainment
  • Health
  • Niger Delta
  • Security

How Nigerian Air Force Paid Bandits N20 Million To Avoid Shooting Down Buhari’s Plane

by Jungle Journalist
October 17, 2021
Reading Time: 2 mins read
Share on FacebookShare on TwitterShare on WhatsApp

A United States of America media outlet, The Wall Street Journal has revealed how the Nigerian Air Force coordinated ransom payments to armed bandits in exchange for an anti-aircraft gun seized from the Nigerian Army in a desperate deal that was brokered as President Muhammadu Buhari was planning a trip to Katsina.

The U.S. outlet said N20 million was delivered to the bandits in Rugu Forest by a Nigerian Air Force official, who leaked details of the operation under anonymity, because the military realised that it would be too risky to leave the weapon in the hands of violent criminals operating in an area the presidential jet would fly over.

ADVERTISEMENT

The rugged, lawless jungle that covers parts of Kaduna, Zamfara and the president’s home state of Katsina has served as a vast haven for bandits terrorising Nigeria’s northwestern communities. A large portion of kidnapping plots emanates or terminates in or around the forest, security agencies have previously warned.

ReadAlso

BREAKING: Travelers stranded as bandits launch multiple attacks on Tsafe-Yankara & Kaduna-Abuja highways

Police arrest several women in Kaduna arranging girls to bandits for sex

“The mission to buy back the antiaircraft gun began with a handoff from a high-ranking air force intelligence officer in the capital Abuja: a black zip-up bag he said was full of 20 million Nigerian naira,” the paper reported, after stating that such military hardware in the hands of bandits “posed a threat to President Muhammadu Buhari, who had been planning to fly to his hometown about 80 miles away.”

The gun truck with 12.7 caliber anti-aircraft fire was reportedly disassembled and transported back to the military on motorbikes after the deal was concluded.

ADVERTISEMENT

The Journal did not specify when the deal was brokered or the presidential trip that was planned. The president has been in his hometown at least twice this year that his office disclosed to the public. The first trip was in late January and another in July.

Although the Nigerian government claimed combat victories against armed bandits, several military bases have been sacked by the violent criminals dreaded largely for their abduction of schoolchildren and prominent personalities, including politicians and emirs.

Last month, a forward operating base crucial to the military campaign against banditry was raided in Zamfara, leaving at least 12 officers killed. The bandits also seized military equipment when they captured the base in Dansadau, about 80 kilometres south of the capital Gusau, in the September 11 operation.

Less than two weeks later on September 24, bandits again struck a joint base of security forces in the neighbouring Sokoto State, killing several soldiers, Civil Defence officers and civilians.

ADVERTISEMENT

The Nigerian Air Force also confirmed on July 19 that bandits had shot down one of its fighter jets, but the pilot was able to eject without and there were no casualties. The incident came as Mr Buhari was visiting his hometown for this year’s Sallah.

It was not immediately clear why service chiefs opted for ransom payment in the operation described by The Journal. Military weapons that fell into the hands of Boko Haram insurgents and bandits were usually destroyed by air strikes.

Share this:

  • Twitter
  • Facebook

Related

Tags: banditsNigerian armyPresidential plane
Share18Tweet12Send
Previous Post

FG orders demolition of Globacom masts nationwide over N5.9b debt

Next Post

Ugochukwu Agballah emerges APC chairman in Enugu’s multiple congresses

You MayAlso Like

Election

Peter Obi visits NNPP leader, may emerge Rabiu Kwankwaso’s running mate

May 25, 2022
Breaking News

BREAKING: Peter Mbah emerges Enugu PDP guber candidate

May 25, 2022
News

Monkeypox: Another Red-Alert for Nigeria

May 25, 2022
Breaking News

Just In! Peter Obi Dumps PDP, Pulls Out Of Presidential Primary

May 25, 2022
Breaking News

BREAKING: Prof Ikonne wins Abia PDP Governorship Ticket

May 25, 2022
crime

Rochas: It is a big insult to disobey the nation’s laws, resist arrest and even attack the police

May 25, 2022
Next Post

Ugochukwu Agballah emerges APC chairman in Enugu’s multiple congresses

Acceptance Speech of Enyinnaya Harbor, APC chairman-elect in Abia

Discussion about this post

ADVERTISEMENT

Recent Posts

  • Peter Obi visits NNPP leader, may emerge Rabiu Kwankwaso’s running mate
  • BREAKING: Peter Mbah emerges Enugu PDP guber candidate
  • Monkeypox: Another Red-Alert for Nigeria
  • Just In! Peter Obi Dumps PDP, Pulls Out Of Presidential Primary
  • BREAKING: Prof Ikonne wins Abia PDP Governorship Ticket
ADVERTISEMENT

Recent Comments

  • Ogbuenyi Sunday on Anambra police arrest river-bathing prophet ‘Onye Eze Jesus’
  • Stephen CE on List of international stars who have joined #EndSARS/#EndSWAT and what they said

Trending

JUST IN: CBN Governor, Godwin Emefiele sacked

BREAKING: List of winners of Enugu State House of Assembly PDP primaries

Ebonyi Prophet speaks on Igbo Presidency, reveals Buhari’s successor, what will happen to Kwankwaso, Shekarau

Woman discovers 4 cats and 1 snake living inside her car in Edo State

BREAKING NEWS: 2023- Jonathan, Emefiele disqualified from Presidential race

Enugu 2023: Ekweremmadu, Odengene, Onoh opts out of guber primaries, as Peter Mbah is tipped as PDP flagbearer

ADVERTISEMENT

Crises Looms In APGA As Senatorial Aspirant Calls Out Gov. Soludo

How Nigerian Air Force Paid Bandits N20 Million To Avoid Shooting Down Buhari’s Plane

Peter Obi visits NNPP leader, may emerge Rabiu Kwankwaso’s running mate

Rochas: It is a big insult to disobey the nation’s laws, resist arrest and even attack the police

ADVERTISEMENT

Popular Stories

  • JUST IN: CBN Governor, Godwin Emefiele sacked

    1297 shares
    Share 519 Tweet 324
  • BREAKING: Enugu LG election turns bloody, 5 killed as unknown gunmen abduct journalists(+Disturbing Images)

    359 shares
    Share 144 Tweet 90
  • BREAKING: Founder of Synagogue for All Nations, TB Joshua dies after programme

    271 shares
    Share 108 Tweet 68
  • Lekki girl who sleeps with dogs for N1.5M battling incurable diseases, confesses to friend

    207 shares
    Share 83 Tweet 52
  • Ebenebe Burial Masaacre: Shocking details of why cultists killed mourners emerge

    178 shares
    Share 71 Tweet 45
  • BIAFRA: How Nnamdi Kanu ‘saw’ the death of TB Joshua

    175 shares
    Share 70 Tweet 44

ABOUT US

Jungle Journalist Media Limited

Jungle Journalist Media Limited

Jungle Journalist is an online news and information resource centre dedicated to accurate and timely news reports.

Read More >>

CONNECT WITH US

SECTIONS

  • Aviation
  • Biafra
  • birthday
  • Bizarre
  • Breaking News
  • Building and Properties
  • Columnist
  • Community Reports
  • crime
  • Economy and Business
  • Editorial
  • Education
  • Election
  • electricity
  • entertainment
  • Health
  • Holidays
  • Human Rights
  • International
  • Interviews
  • Law
  • Magazine
  • media
  • Money
  • National
  • News
  • Niger Delta
  • North
  • Obituary
  • Oil and Gas
  • Opinions
  • Photos
  • Politics
  • Press Release
  • Religion and Culture
  • Science and Technology
  • Security
  • South East
  • South-South
  • South-West
  • Sports
  • Transport and Aviation
  • Violence
  • Women and Children
  • Worship
  • Youth
No Result
View All Result

NEWS SOURCES

  • Punch
  • Nigerian Tribune
  • The Nation
  • Thisday
  • DailyTrust
  • The Sun
  • Daily Independent
  • PM News
  • Vanguard
  • Premium Times
  • Sahara Reporters
  • The Guardian
  • Leadership
  • Daily Times Of Nigeria
    • About
    • Advertise With Us
    • Privacy Policy

    © 2021 Jungle Journalist Media Limited - Web Designed by AfeesHost.

    No Result
    View All Result
    • News
    • Politics
    • Economy and Business
    • Sports
    • Editorial
    • Education
    • entertainment
    • Health
    • Niger Delta
    • Security

    © 2021 Jungle Journalist Media Limited - Web Designed by AfeesHost.