Air chief warns bandits: We are coming for you… we will flush you out

Isyaka Amao, chief of air staff, says the Nigerian military is battle-ready to “flush out” bandits and kidnappers from the country.

The air chief said the military has perfected plans to go after criminal elements terrorising Nigerians.

He spoke on Wednesday during an operational visit to the Nigerian air force base in Kaduna state.

The air chief said President Muhammadu Buhari had ordered the military to ensure that people go freely to their farms during the rainy season without any security threat.

“Our officers and men are ready for the battle against bandits and kidnappers,” he said.

“We are working towards that in synergy, the platforms are ready for the operations and we are liaising with the Army and other ground troops for the operations.

“My message to bandits is that we are coming after them together with the Army, Navy and other security agencies to make sure they are flushed out of the country.”

Amao said the welfare of the air force personnel will be prioritised so as to motivate the officers to diligently carry out their duties.

“Welfare entails providing the personnel with equipments, conducive training environment and where they live and to make sure they are given their entitlements”, he said.

NAN reports that the air chief also paid a courtesy visit to Nasir El-Rufai, governor of Kaduna state.

SPATE OF ABDUCTIONS IN KADUNA

Bandits have invaded several schools in Kaduna in the past few days, abducting teachers and students.

Last Friday, 39 students were abducted when gunmen invaded the Federal College Of Forestry Mechanisation in Afaka, Igabi LGA of the state.

Days later, the abducted students appeared in a viral video on social media, wherein they were seen being tortured by gunmen while appealing to the government to rescue them.

On Monday, gunmen again attacked UBE primary school at Rama in Birnin-Gwari LGA of the state and abducted some pupils.

The UBE primary school incident was two days after troops of the Nigerian army foiled the attempt of bandits to abduct some students of Turkish International Secondary School in Kaduna.