Why Tucano Jets still unused Against Bandits – Presidency

The Presidency has said the Nigerian military cannot deploy the Super Tucano jets against the bandits in the North West due to the agreement signed with the United States during the 

purchase of the military hardware.

According to the presidency, the Nigerian Government does not want to go against the terms of the agreement signed with the American government and be on their bad record.

He said the Tucano jets would be deployed as soon as the American government gives the go-ahead or grant permission to use them against terrorists.

He said: “The military is a trained military. The president is responsible. If he finishes now, we want him to go and rest in Kaduna or Daura, we don’t want him to go to the International Criminal Court, that is not the idea. We should allow the military to use their methodical process for dealing with these things, let them do it.

“When you are dealing with countries like America, you have to be sensitive to public opinion which is important to them as it is to us.

“Yes, it is clear when they sold the super Tucano to the government of Nigeria. They were looking at the law. The law does not allow you to use weapons on targets they classify as civilians otherwise America will no longer sell weapons to you. Don’t forget that it took a buildup of years of rejection until President Buhari came onto the scene and was able to establish credibility with America and they said they would sell.

“It is true that from the beginning, the Air Force could not use the aircraft in the North West and even after that, it took some time because these things also use precision type weapon. From my own understanding, these were not to be made available until March, we are just into April.”