President Muhammadu Buhari has hailed gallant pilot of the Nigerian Air Force Alpha Jet, Flight Lieutenant Abayomi Dairo, who successfully ejected from an aircraft that came under ‘intense ground fire from bandits’ in Zamfara State a few days back.
Africa Today News, New York gathered that the pilot had completed a raid against kidnappers when he came under intense fire, the Air Force spokesman, Edward Gabkwet.
Flight Lieutenant Dairo was able to dodge several bandits’ strongholds by using the cover of darkness and his phone set for navigation and maneuvered his way to a Nigerian Army Unit, where he was finally rescued.
Read Also: Bullets Alone Can’t Stop Bandits, Jonathan Tells Buhari
Reacting, President Buhari in a statement issued through his spokesman, Garba Shehu he revealed that he was pained by the news of the air crash.
‘I was shocked by the devastating news of the air crash but felt much relieved, following the successful ejection by the pilot and his eventual rescue. May the injured pilot recover at the earliest time,’ President Buhari was quoted as saying.
Shehu said President Buhari had been briefed on the successful operation by the nation’s defence forces to rescue the pilot, few days after armed bandits gunned down the military aircraft.
The attack happened on the border of the northern Zamfara and Kaduna states.
Armed gangs – referred to locally as ‘bandits’ – have been blamed for a spate of recent kidnappings in this part of north-western Nigeria.
Africa Today News, New York recalls that in recent days, President Muhammadu Buhari has directed the military to do all it takes to flush out criminals in the states of Katsina, Zamfara, and Kaduna.
AFRICA TODAY NEWS, NEW YORK