- PDP Trade Tackles With APC Over Kaduna Airport Attack
- We Won’t Let Nigerians Down, Says COAS
The rising spate of insecurity in Nigeria assumed a frightening dimension on Saturday as Kaduna Airport came under attack. During the daring attack, a security guard was shot dead and a Lagos-bound aircraft was prevented from taking off.
The victim, Shehu Na’Allah, is a staff of the Nigerian Airspace Management Agency (NAMA).
Confirming the incident, the manager of the Airport, Mrs. Amina Salami, said that the bandits invaded the airport through the perimeter fence from a nearby forest at about 1 pm on Saturday afternoon, and started shooting sporadically to scare the workers.
She further explained that a security guard with the Nigerian Airspace Management Agency (NAMA) who was patrolling around the runway was shot to death by the bandits.
The airport manager also disclosed that the sound of gunshot attracted the attention of armed security operatives who arrived at the scene and were able to repel the bandits from gaining access into the main airport complex.
This development prompted the opposition Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) to accuse the All-Progressives Congress (APC) of conceding the country’s sovereignty to “terrorists”.
In a statement issued on Sunday by Debo Ologunagba, PDP national publicity secretary, the party said Nigerians can no longer trust the APC-led government to provide security.
“The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) alerts that the Saturday, March 26, 2022 invasion of the Kaduna International Airport by terrorists (code-named bandits by the APC) is a clear confirmation that our nation’s security, command, and control structure under the President Muhammadu Buhari-led All Progressives Congress (APC) administration has completely collapsed,” the statement reads.
“The alarming invasion of the airport by terrorists at a time outlaws, kidnappers, and marauders have taken over our highways and railways has further heightened security concerns that nowhere is safe in the country under the APC.
“The refusal and failure of President Buhari and the APC to take action on the airport attack but continued to a jamboree in Abuja in the name of a National Convention reveal and confirm that the Buhari administration has conceded sovereignty over parts of our country to terrorists.
“President Buhari’s nonchalant disposition to this grave security challenge indicates that his administration is unable, unwilling, and or complicit in this particular attack as well as various other acts of terrorism in our country.
“It is indefensibly suspicious that while an international airport in our country was under attack by over 200 terrorists with many Nigerians being held hostage and traumatized, President Buhari and the APC continued in their carnival in Abuja without acknowledging or expressing concern. Is this not a case of ‘Buhari fiddles while Nigeria burns?’
“The APC government has failed, become numb to violence against our citizens and can no longer perform its primary duty under Section 14 (2)(b) of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria 1999 (as amended) which provides that ‘security and welfare of the people shall be the primary purpose of government’.”
Meanwhile, the Chief of the Army Staff (COAS), Lt.-Gen. Farouk Yahaya has said the service will not let the country down in addressing the multifaceted security challenges being faced.
He also insisted that the military was winning the war against insurgents, citing a recent Global Terrorism Index (GTI) report that commended the country’s efforts.
Yahaya gave the assurances in Lagos after unveiling the solar and electricity borehole, street lights built at Isale Eko community by the Army Corps of Engineers to enhance civil-military relations.
He said security agencies have recorded several successes in the war with obvious results despite isolated attacks by insurgents, adding that appreciable milestones were also recorded in the fight against banditry and kidnapping.
He urged the people to continue to support the armed forces as eradicating the scourge completely would take time.
Yahaya said: “In other aspects of banditry and kidnapping we are achieving successes both in the North West, North East, and North Central and across all tiers even in the South East where we are confronting secessionists.
“We have achieved a lot of results. As I said, it is not as if there are no isolated incidents here and there; but those also we are tackling with the support and commitment of the president and the synergy between the Nigerian Army, Nigerian Navy, Nigerian Airforce, other security agencies, and stakeholders. We won’t let the country down.”
On the projects being unveiled, the COAS said it was aimed at bringing succor to the community as well as bringing the army closer to the people.
“This time the projects that are ongoing in the army were identified areas where we have very senior officers who have through hard work, dedication, and commitment, risen to the enviable rank of Major General. They were asked to identify projects of needs in their communities in order for the army to undertake them.
“This is just one that we have commissioned today. Maj.-Gen. Kamalu Kadiri the Commander Corps of Engineers decided to come back to his roots at Isale Eko and provided them with water, street lights amongst others.
“We have commissioned several others, three weeks ago at Okene and other places…”
In his remarks, Maj.-Gen. Kadiri said each borehole has two power points one solar light and electricity, adding that also provided were generators to the street lights.
“We have 38 solar power street lights for selected part of the community. We started the project in November last year and it ended this month,” he said.
Yahaya also inaugurated projects at Dondan and Abati Barracks including the Army Finance Corps Soldiers’ Transit accommodation; Army Ordinance School Students’ Hostel, Ablution Block; 70 Command Supply Transport Transit Officers’ accommodation; newly built official residences for Regimental Sergeant Majors (RSMs) of 81 Division, NA Engineers Corps and Signals, as well as office houses at Apapa for the Commander and Deputy Commander, Finance Corps.
