The Nigerian troops initially refused to unleash the sophisticated Super Tucano against armed bandits who have been engaging in criminal activities in various parts of the country....CONTINUE READING THE FULL ARTICLE>>>
That initial refusal was a very difficult and painful decision not only for the military but also for Nigerians who earnestly desired the crushing of the armed bandits. There are some reasons for the initial refusal to deploy the Super Tucano against the bandits. What are the reasons?
Troops eliminate arms supplier, 4 bandits in North West
One, the US government gave a condition that the Super Tucano would not be used against civilians especially outside the North East but it must be used in the war against Boko Haram and other terrorists in the North East. This condition by the US was to protect human rights of other groups/persons and it was a condition it gave before agreeing to sell the Super Tucano to Nigerian government.
Another reason for the initial refusal was because the bandits were not declared terrorists neither were the gangs proscribed. To this end, they were seen as civilians who are only into criminal activities and they are assumed innocent until proven guilty.
How the story changed as the troops are set to unleash the Super Tucano to against the bandits
The very first development that changed the story was the ruling of the court declaring the bandits terrorists. That ruling was given by the Federal High Court Abuja presided over by Justice Taiwo Taiwo. He declared the bandit groups Yan Bindiga, Yan Ta’adda and other bandit groups as terrorists. This is the major milestone against the bandits which has prompted the Nigerian troops to get ready to deploy the Super Tucano against the bandits.
Again, the suit that led to that decision was filed by the federal government through the Director of Public Prosecution of the Federation, Mohammed Abubakar. That move had the full backing of President Muhammadu Buhari who is the President and the Commander-in-Chief of the federation. It means that Buhari is fully in support of this renewed move to crush the bandits as his approval helped to set the machinery in motion which would lead to deploying the Super Tucano against the armed bandits that have been terrorizing innocent Nigerians especially in the North West part of Nigeria.
Buhari Issues Fresh Directives After Briefings From Service Chiefs
The coast is clear
From the things discussed above, it is clear that the coast is clear for the Nigerian troops to unleash the Super Tucano to crush the bandits now that the gangs have been tagged terrorists by a court of competent jurisdiction. The last thing that can back this move is the order of the court that the judgment declaring the bandits as terrorists should be gazetted by the federal government. That would make the public, other countries and governments including the US to know that the move to use the Super Tucano against the bandits has legal and government’s backing.
What are your thoughts on this article? Feel free to drop your comments.