Wants President Tinubu to order investigation into allegations that Nigeria Army bought 60 year old fire fighting helicopters from South Africa as new
Pro-democracy advocates: HUMAN RIGHTS WRITERS ASSOCIATION OF NIGERIA (HURIWA) has described as disconcerting and unfortunate, the information that terrorists have taken over and are occupying a military training camp in Niger state as disclosed by the state House of Assembly.
HURIWA has therefore urged the President to direct the military to decisively expel the terrorists occupying the military training facility. “This piece of bad news should seriously be seen as a major national security threat especially because it takes just five hours to drive from Kontagora to the Federal Capital Territory. The earlier these terrorists are degraded, decapitated and expelled from the military facility, the better for the security interest of Nigeria.”
The Rights group asserted that based on available information, the military camp, located at the Nagwamase military cantonment in Kontagora, the headquarters of the Kontagora Local Government area of the state, is reportedly one of the biggest military training camps in the country.
The Rights group said it is a big shame that the military allowed this to happen in the first place just as HURIWA called for a broad action by the military to ensure that this sort of spectacular disgrace is not repeated in any of its facilities in the country as this calls to question the capacity of the armed forces to implement their mandate as constitutionally guaranteed.
“Defending the territorial integrity of Nigeria is the most fundamental duty of the military. It is therefore absolutely unacceptable that terrorists would be allowed to occupy military camp for this period of time to an extent that the Niger state house of Assembly was compelled to intervene. HURIWA wondered why the National Assembly hasn’t taken steps to compel the military to bring to an end this show of shame in Niger State.
HURIWA recalled that in a motion of urgent public importance brought during plenary on Tuesday, the member representing Kontagora 11 State Constituency, Abdullahi Isah, said the military camp, which occupies a large expanse of land extending from Kontagora Local Government to parts of Mariga Local Government was now being occupied by the bandits.
He said the training camp of the bandits was where personnel of the artillery corps of the Nigerian Army underwent training.
Also, the lawmakers said the bandits had chased out residents of no fewer than 23 communities around the military camp.
Besides, HURIWA has expressed disappointment that no proactive steps were taken to stop the vandalism at the power facilities in Niger State that has thrown Northern states to over a week without electricity power even when locals told the media that the lines extend from Shiroro Hydroelectric Power Dam, through Chiri axis, one of the communities which have suffered many attacks in Munya LGA, and extends towards Sakin-Pawa to Kafin-Koro in Paikoro LGA.
HURIWA citing media report said a traditional ruler in Munya LGA, who preferred anonymity, disclosed that the lines are on a bandits’ route, the reason why it is difficult for engineers of the Transmission Company of Nigeria (TCN) to quickly tackle the problem. “You cannot predict when they will strike,” he added.
“HURIWA is convinced that if the Army through a proactive service Chief had acted much earlier to expel the terrorists from the training camp, then the economic sabotage of disrupting electricity power supplies to the North West couldn’t have occurred. This apparent failure should therefore be a reference point for the President to think more intensely and consider appointing a much more capable, competent and focused Chief of Army Staff for Nigeria so the war on terror is not continuously derailed.”
HURIWA also expressed shock about the media report by Saharareporters that the Nigeria Army bought and refurbished some 60-year old fire fighting helicopters abandoned in South Africa and then presented the helicopters as brand new.
In June 2024, the Nigerian Army led by Chief of Army Staff (COAS), Lieutenant General Taoreed Lagbaja, reportedly received two Bell UH-1H ‘Huey’ helicopters at a ceremony held at the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport in Abuja.
The aircraft were registered as NA 010 and NA 011.
Army spokesman, Major General Onyema Nwachukwu, in a statement after the ceremony allegedly claimed the helicopters were bought new.
“The Nigerian Army (NA) has taken a significant step in enhancing its operational capabilities with the delivery of the first batch of new aircrafts (sic),” he had said.
“The berthing of the aircrafts (sic) marks a significant milestone in the development of the Nigerian Army Aviation’s capacity to provide air support for ground operations.
“The aircraft BELL UH-1H (HUEY) helicopters, were formally received by the Chief of Army Staff (COAS), Lieutenant General Taoreed Lagbaja in a brief ceremony held at the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport, Abuja on Thursday 20 June, 2024.”
A check on avcom.co.za by the saharareporters showed both helicopters were put up for sale on Tuesday, May 21, 2024.
“Two Bell UH-1H Huey helicopters ZT-RCS and ZT-RAI were recently noted flying at Rand Airport painted in an overall olive drab livery. These former forest fire fighting helicopters had been in South Africa for several years but were put up for sale earlier this year.
“Photos and videos subsequently published on social media platforms showed several Nigerian Army helicopter pilots received training on these two helicopters at Henley Air.
“While these two helicopters have not yet featured in this update as cancelled from the local register they were subsequently shown on social media and news agency posts on delivery to the recently-established Nigerian Army Aviation Airwing at Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport in Abuja, Nigeria on 20 June wearing the serial numbers NA 010 and NA 011 respectively,” SA Flyer, an African aviation magazine reported on August 24, 2024.
According to Defensehere.com, NA 010, which was previously registered as ZT-RCS in South Africa was manufactured in 1968 and it was used by the US Army before transitioning to the civilian market as N518CB.
It was then exported to South Africa by Northwest Helicopters in 2014.
HURIWA is hereby calling on Mr. President to order the relevant security and law enforcement agencies to immediately investigate the veracity or otherwise of this highly damaging allegation as published in the US based online newspaper : Saharareporters. “We are of the considered opinion that if it is discovered that such old and virtually dysfunctional helicopters were procured for the Nigeria Army, the officers implicated in this alleged scam should be arrested, prosecuted and sanctioned.
*Comrade Emmanuel Onwubiko,
National Coordinator,
HUMAN RIGHTS WRITERS ASSOCIATION OF NIGERIA (HURIWA). October 30th 2024.