The United States Government says the Federal Government is expected to deploy the Super Tucano aircraft only in the northern part of the country where Boko Haram terrorists have engaged the Nigerian state in a decade-long insurgency killing thousands and displacing millions.

This, therefore, precludes the possibility of the Federal Government deploying the security equipment in the South-East despite the designation of the proscribed Indigenous People of Biafra as a terrorist organisation and the setting up of the armed Eastern Security Network by IPOB.

The South-East has been the epicentre of a secessionist agitation threatening to break up the country.

Briefing journalists earlier in the week, the US Principal Deputy National Security Advisor, Jonathan Finer, at an event attended by the US Ambassador to Nigeria, Mary Beth Leonard, said the terms of the agreement during the sale of the 12 Tucano aircraft were explicit.

Reacting to a question on whether the Tucano fighter planes might be deployed against secessionists in the South-East, Finer said the planes were an important platform for security, particularly in the North, expressing pleasure over the conclusion of the deal.

Finer said, “We are pleased to deepen our security cooperation with the Nigerian government. I think we made it very clear our expectations about this platform where it would be used and in the right way and we are always raising concerns when we have them and that it’s true with all our security partners around the world.
“This is an important platform for security, particularly in the North and we are pleased the transaction is finally concluded.”

The PUNCH reported on Wednesday that the military had not been able to deploy the Tucano planes to crush the bandits in the North-West because the agreement signed with the United States was that the aircraft, bought from the US, would be deployed against terrorists and not bandits. This implies that the fighter planes have only been deployed to fight Boko Haram terrorists in the North-East.

It was gathered that the complaints by the service chiefs led to the recent recommendation to the President, Major General Muhammadu Buhari (retd.), by the Senate and the House of Representatives that bandits should be designated as terrorists, so the planes could be deployed against the bandits.

The President has yet to speak on the matter. His Senior Special Assistant on Media and Publicity, Garba Shehu, also told The PUNCH to direct enquiries to the Ministry of Defence.

The Federal Government had ordered 12 A-29 Super Tucano aircraft to aid its war against Boko Haram terrorists in the North-East. The aircraft were said to have cost $423m.

On July 22, 2021, the Nigerian Air Force said in a statement by its spokesperson, Air Commodore Edward Gabkwet, that the first batch of six of the Tucano aircraft arrived at Kano at about 12:34pm.

Those who received the aircraft were the Minister of Defence, Bashir Magashi; Chief of Air Staff, Oladayo Amao and the Chief of Army Staff, Farouk Yahaya, among others.

Also, on October 18, 2021, the Minister of Information and Culture, Alhaji Lai Mohammed, said the remaining six had been received and had been deployed to the North-East.

Speaking on a TVC News programme, ‘This Morning’, the minister said, “All the 12 Super Tucano fighter jets have been received. As at this morning, all the 12 were here and they have been deployed to the North-East.

“We can see that the Tucano jets are actually game changers. Most of the successes we have recorded in recent times is because of the acquisition of new platforms, not limited to the super Tucano.”

While the jets were being awaited, some members of the National Assembly visited the United States in May to inspect the aircraft. The lawmakers include Senator Michael Nnachi, Representatives Abass Adigun, Babajimi Benson, Shehu Koko and Abubakar Maki.
They were received by United States officials from Embraer Defence Security Incorporated and the Nigerian Defence Attaché to the US, Air Commodore Jibrin Usman, the Lead Foreign Liaison Office on the A-29, Air Vice Marshal Sule Lawal, among others.

The US officials pointed out that the aircraft were designed in accordance with NAF’s specific operational configuration.

Also, a total of 64 pilots and maintainers from the Nigerian Air Force were trained to the US standards with the US Air Force’s 81st Fighter Squadron at Moody Air Base in Georgia, United States.
 
The Movement for the Actualisation of the Sovereign State of Biafra says it fears the Federal Government will deploy the Tucano planes to attack Igbo youths agitating to secede from Nigeria.

It said the worry of its members was triggered by the killings and burning of houses in Igbo communities by the personnel of the Nigerian Army in Imo State in the name of reprisals.

The spokesperson for MASSOB, Samuel Edeson, told one of our correspondents in a telephone interview that many innocent Igbo youths had been killed by security agents.

He added, “The Fulani herdsmen have been terrorising the entire Southern and Middle Belt region but the Federal Government has not tagged them terrorists or send soldiers after them. Their agenda is to annihilate Ndigbo and take over our God-given land but one thing is sure, evil will never overcome good.”

https://www.google.com/amp/s/punchng.com/us-asks-nigeria-to-restrict-super-tucano-to-north/%3famp

Them first wan say no

Would the terrorist Fulani government do? Smh for ipob. Ipob should wise up & always brace for impact

Hahaha, the US already understand their terrorist tendencies towards Southerners, particularly East and has decided to preempt any such move.

All their evil plans is being frustrated already

Igbo votes for US senators are speaking

.

you biafrans are crazy....you think amelika cares....??

even sef,how they wan control were the tucanos are used....

The civilised world are taking note of happening in Zoo called Nigeria.




Baboons and monkeys thinks this is 1967 that the zoo hired Egyptian pilots to come and bomb easterners.



This time e go choke and at end the sun will rise.




NB;If you insult our prophet,we will insult yours too.

This statements is a reflection of how the US perceive the Nigeria government.

They are not comfortable with the attitude of Buhari government especially when it comes to treating Southern dissidents with sledgehammer and pampering his terrorist brothers in the North.

United States and countries outside Nigeria know very well that this government is out to cripple the south...but some southern zombies are yet to realize this, probably because of the leftovers they get from those governing them..

No wonder they say, what an elder sees sitting down, a child will not see it even on a rooftop.

Big Uncle Sam, you have shown you can see through the deceit of this cursed regime.
This is to tell you that the world is fully aware of the Northern agenda.
You can only know through the recent foreign relationship with China and Russia, who happens to be enemies of the US.
The Buhari led regime knows the US will not just shot their eyes against impunity showcased in the most populous black nation, made up of approximately 50% Christians, That is why He went mortgaging the future of Nigeria to China. Imagine the Dullard asking for debt relief and at thesame time begging to borrow more, is it not just to spite the West?
America don comot their troops for Afghanistan, which is a Muslim nation for their fellow muslims (Talibans) to control. They are looking for where to post those troops to and may be the Christian part of southern Nigeria may soon be their base.
Big Uncle Sam Know wetin una dey do for South East through UGM, South West and South South through Herdsmen if you try by mistake say you want upgrade go bomb one community because of one group for south, you go start wetin you no go fit finish. May be Buhari will then See how much His China and Russia loves Him.

Lol... The caption of this post is misleading. After reading this the article, there is no were it said the aircraft are only restricted to the North only. The ambassador was only citing instances of terrorist activities going on in the North...

IPOB that are killing Innocent citizens in the South East are doing worst than bandits and other criminals in the North East of Nigeria.

God save us from this insecurity

.

CSTR2:
In other words, the US does not agree with the designation of ipob as terrorists.

They don't

tsdarkside:
you biafrans are crazy....you think amelika cares....??

even sef,how they wan control were the tucanos are used....

You're not smart bro.

In this time and age, see as you dey reason

Well sha... To the topic

This is one of the reason I prefer the Nigerian Government buying weapons from just Russia and China.

We spent more than $400m on those platforms, at the end, we no fit even use am the way we want.

Anyday the Nigerian Airforce use the jets on a terrorist group like IPOB, the USA will stop supplying spare parts for the planes.

Nigeria do not have the capability to produce most of the spares needed to run the jets.

They will just become a waste like our jaguars.

benuejosh:
IPOB that are killing Innocent citizens in the South East are doing worst than bandits and other criminals in the North East of Nigeria.

wow!!! What a dull zombies!you will soon become bandits or bokoharam victims insallah

Lalasticala front page pls, because I know one tribalistic mod won't push it to front page.

Tony5050:
Them first wan say no

the army already said they can't deploy it north

Crowwejihadist:
Lalasticala front page pls, because I know one tribalistic mod won't push it to front page.

Who are the remaining mods?

meccuno:
Who are the remaining mods?

Just mind your business.

Abeg make south and east go smuggle anti aircraft flak, cos fg go stylishly sublet the Jets to their Boko wing. This I have seen

This will pain Malami and lai Muhammad

Unverifiable news.

Maxymilliano:
This statements is a reflection of how the US perceive the Nigeria government.

They are not comfortable with the attitude of Buhari government especially when it comes to treating Southern dissidents with sledgehammer and pampering his terrorist brothers in the North.

You must agree to US terms and conditions before they will sell any country weapons.

Nigerians made that mistake of giving guns to a baboon in 2015 because GEJ was too boring! Too late! We are all now behaving like a monkey just to get the Gun back.
US instead of learning from our mistake, also decided to sell Tucano to terrorist! Now in order to get the Tucano back, Nigerians will have to...

Yes PLEASE.

The worst terrorists are in the NW and NE and they should be met with the full force of the state. No mercy.

IPOB/UGM/ESN and other SE idiots don't require Super Tucano.
A few light helicopters, airborne troops and trained snipers are enough.

Secessionists in SE Nigeria are a minority but the devil is using them to bring destruction and retrogression upon their land and we won't waste sympathy and concern when the effects start to show in the next few years.

God is not to blame!

PrinceOfLagos:

They don't

But why?

loveth360:
But why?

Because they know that the real terrorists currently resides in Aso rock