The Nigerian Air Force (NAF) has finally confirmed the crash of an Alpha Jet that reportedly occurred on Sunday. A NAF pilot Flight Lieutenant Abayomi Dairo, has been rescued following a successful mission that led to the elimination of more than 120 bandits in multiple airstrikes executed at Sububu forest in Zamfara on July 12. Air Commodore Edward Gabkwet, NAF Director of Information, confirmed the above in a statement issued on Monday. Gabkwet said Dairo was returning from a successful air interdiction mission between the boundaries of Zamfara and Kaduna states when the aircraft came under attack and crashed. He stated that Dairo escaped when he ejected from the aircraft before it crashed, adding that when he landed, the armed bandits gave him a hot chase. Gabkwet said, “On July 18, 2021, around 12.45 pm, a Nigerian Air Force Alpha Jet aircraft, returning from a successful air interdiction mission between the boundaries of Zamfara and Kaduna states, came under intense enemy fire which led to its crash in Zamfara State. “Luckily, the gallant pilot of the aircraft, Flight Lieutenant Abayomi Dairo, successfully ejected from the aircraft. Using his survival instincts, the pilot, who came under intense ground fire from the bandits, was able to evade them and sought refuge in nearby settlements awaiting sunset.

Former President Goodluck Jonathan has said bullets and other forces of arms alone cannot stop armed robbery, banditry, and other forms of criminality in the country. He said this on Sunday in Abuja at the 50th birthday reception of a former Corps Marshal of the Federal Road Safety Commission (FRSC) and Minister of Aviation, Chief Osita Chidoka. He said: With the level of armed robbery and other crimes going on, it shows clearly that bullets alone cannot solve them. “It requires top-quality programmes of government. It requires technology, it requires a lot to stop armed robbery and all forms of crimes, including corruption that we talk about every day. “Because it is difficult to stake a rule and think that that would solve the problems.”

The Nigerian Air Force (NAF) on Thursday revealed that six of its 12 A-29 Super Tucano aircraft are expected to arrive in the country from the United States, U. S by the end of the month. According to NAF Spokesperson, Edward Gabkwet, who disclosed this in a statement on Thursday, the aircrafts departed the U.S on Wednesday and will journey through five countries before reaching Nigeria. “The first batch of 6 A-29 Super Tucano aircraft have departed the United States of America on Wednesday, July 14, 2021, en route Nigeria,” the statement reads.

A first-class traditional ruler of Eganyi in Ajaokuta Local Government Area Kogi State, Mohammed Adembe has been kidnapped and by unknown gunmen along Okene-Adogo road, Tuesday evening. The kidnapping, which was one out of many in recent times, occurred barely three days after the kidnap of the Managing Director of AZECO Pharmaceutical company, AbdulAzeez Obajimoh, at Ozuwaya in the Okene area of the state.

The Police Command in Kaduna state on Tuesday said its operatives rescued three kidnapped victims, including one of the students of Bethel Baptist Secondary School in Kujama, Chikun Local Government Area of the state. The command’s Public Relations Officer, ASP Mohammed Jalige confirmed the apparently exciting development in a statement issued on Tuesday in Kaduna. According to Jalige, the command’s mission to rescue all kidnap victims through intelligence-led policing and rigorous patrol had yielded results with the rescue of the three on Monday. “On July 12, at about 1540hrs, operatives of the command, alongside Civilian JTF on routine rescue patrol around the forest of Tsohon Gaya village, Chikun LGA of Kaduna State, stumbled on three kidnapped victims roaming the bush, extremely exhausted and weak,” he disclosed.

The Kidnapped Emir of Kajuru, Alhaji Alhassan Adamu, has regained his freedom from his captors on Monday. Thirteen other persons abducted from the monarch’s private residence including his daughter, however, remain in captivity. Ibrahim Inuwa Kajuru, a former chairman of the Nigerian Union of Journalists in Kaduna, confirmed the monarch’s release. It is unclear if any ransom was paid but the bandits earlier demanded N200 million for the release of the 85-year-old monarch. A source close to the family of the Emir said he is in good health and will be taken to the hospital for medical examination.