The Arewa Consultative Forum (ACF) has called for a full-scale investigation in order to clear the air on those behind the captured helicopter allegedly supplying food to criminals.
Former Head of State, General Abdulsalami Abubakar (retd), had debunked the claims of having any link with armed bandits or other insurgent elements within Niger State.
In a statement made available by his media aide, Dr. Yakubu Suleiman, to journalists on Monday in Minna, the state capital, Abubakar dismissed the reports by some selected online media, linking him to a purported arrested helicopter said to be supplying foods and lethal weapons to bandits in parts of the state.
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Abubakar dissociated himself from such “a heinous crime that is unbecoming of any patriotic citizen”, stressing that ordinarily, he would have ignored such spurious reports, but has to set the record straight.
But in a statement issued on Tuesday by the National Publicity Secretary of the forum, Emmanuel Yawe, the ACF stated that the whole scenario was confusing.
It said initially, a former head of state was alleged to be responsible, which he had since denied, adding that “ACF believes there is the need for open and transparent investigation in order to clear the air on this serious matter.”
ACF recalled, that early in March this year at the height of the kidnap of students of the Jangebe Government Girls Secondary School, in Zamfara, the Federal Government slammed a ban of flights over the state.
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“ln reaction, our national chairman, Chief Audu Ogbe issued a statement calling for the ban to be extended to states such as Borno, Taraba, Benue, Yobe where there were rumours that arms, foodstuffs and other supplies were being dropped for bandits by a mysterious helicopter. Today, there are various accounts that a helicopter that has been used to drop suppllies for the criminals has been captured.
“The accounts are rather confusing with the rather scandalous accusation that a former Head of State, General Abubakar Abdulsalami is the owner of the aircraft. The General has since dismissed the rumour that he owns it”, the statement reads.
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