Buhari orders air strikes against bandits

Nigeria’s President Muhammadu Buhari has approved air strikes to target bandits, kidnappers and cattle rustlers in three states to the north and centre of the country. 

The air strikes will support troops already deployed on the ground. The Nigerian air force is also setting up refuelling stations at Minha, a city in Niger state, central Nigeria, to assist in the operations. 

The response comes after gunmen killed 11 people and kidnapped four women during door-to-door attacks in Niger state on Saturday. 

The Senator for Niger-East, Aljaji Sani Musa, told local media that the situation was getting out of hand, with no sign of de-escalation.

“As the attacks continued, more villagers in my constituency are awaiting their fate as so sign of succour seems to be coming their way,” he said. 

Earlier this month, gunmen in Kaduna state killed six people and injured five more.

President Buhari has described the repeated attacks in Niger, Kaduna and Zamfara as a “disaster” and said that air strikes “remain the best approach given the lack of motorised roads in the areas constantly under attack.”

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