The Guardian (Nigeria)

Alleged Aircraft Dropping Of Arms In Zamfara, Failure Of Agencies – Group

- From Segun Olaniyi, Abuja

AGROUP under the aegis of Patriots for the Advancemen­t of Peace and Social Developmen­t ( PAPSD) has said Federal Government’s pronouncem­ent that bandits bring in arms into Zamfara State in exchange for gold through unidentifi­ed aircraft has once again shown that the nation’s intelligen­ce is porous and inactive.

It said this has also brought to the fore the inefficien­cy of the Nigerian Airspace Management Agency ( NAMA) that is saddled with the responsibi­lity of managing the nation’s airspace. A statement signed, yesterday in Abuja by the Executive Director, PAPSD, Dr. Sani Abdulahi Shinkafi said for anybody to say that planes come into Zamfara State to drop arms and carry out gold without tacit cooperatio­n of NAMA and office of the National Security Adviser ( NSA), the person is being economical with the truth.

He said: “It is a known fact that without the approval of NAMA, no aircraft can enter the Nigerian airspace; neither can any aircraft obtain the clearance to land anywhere in the country.

“So, for the Federal Government to accept hook, line and sinker the lie that unidentifi­ed aircraft brings in arms into Zamfara State and take out gold from the state is hogwash.”

Shinkafi pointed out that some desperate politician­s, in collaborat­ion with powerful political appointees in Abuja, are employing intimidati­on, mischief and blackmail, all in the bid to remove Governor Mattawalle and make the state ungovernab­le.

The group alleged that the desperate politician­s went to the extent of circulatin­g a fake video clip of an aircraft, which from its investigat­ion, is a Hawker Siddley 125 business jet that landed on a very rough strip in Guatemala on January 27, 2020, and which was used for a very shady world of drug- running, alluding same to be the plane being used to supply arms to armed bandits and carry gold out of Zamfara State. According to him, the video clip, which has been trending on social media, is being used to blackmail the governor’s efforts to restore the security of lives and properties through his peace initiative accord with armed bandits in the state.

 ??  ?? U. S Consular General, Ms Claire Pierangelo( left); Chief of Naval Staff, Vice Admiral Awwal Gambo; The Flag Officer Commanding, Western Naval Command, Rear Admiral Jason Gbassa; Chief of Staff, Logistic Command, Air Vice Marshal Cosmas Ozougwu; Commander, NNS Beecroft, Rear Admiral Ibrahim Shetima; and Chief of Naval Engineer, Rear Admiral Suleiman EL- Ladan, during the flag- off ceremony of the exercise- obangame express 2021 onboard NNS Thunder, in Lagos… yesterday
U. S Consular General, Ms Claire Pierangelo( left); Chief of Naval Staff, Vice Admiral Awwal Gambo; The Flag Officer Commanding, Western Naval Command, Rear Admiral Jason Gbassa; Chief of Staff, Logistic Command, Air Vice Marshal Cosmas Ozougwu; Commander, NNS Beecroft, Rear Admiral Ibrahim Shetima; and Chief of Naval Engineer, Rear Admiral Suleiman EL- Ladan, during the flag- off ceremony of the exercise- obangame express 2021 onboard NNS Thunder, in Lagos… yesterday

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