Buhari Should Extend Flight Ban To Benue, Taraba, Borno – ACF

The Arewa Consultative Forum (ACF) has asked President Muhammadu Buhari to declare more parts of the country currently being attacked by bandits and Boko Haram “a no flying zone”.

Recall that Buhari, on Tuesday, declared Zamfara a ‘no-fly zone’ and banned all mining activities in the state.

The National Security Adviser, Maj. Gen Babagaba Monguno, while announcing the development in Abuja noted that it is part of the measures to tackle the security challenges in the north-western state.

Monguno disclosed this after a five-hour National Security Council meeting presided over by Buhari at the Presidential Villa in the nation’s capital.

A no-fly zone, also known as a no-flight zone, or air exclusion zone, is a territory or area established by a military power over which certain aircraft are not permitted to fly.

But in a statement to newsmen on Wednesday, the Chairman of the ACF, Audu Ogbeh said the government should extend to states like Benue, Taraba, and Borno where there are rumors that helicopters frequently drop arms for bandits and insurgents.

He said, “Arewa Consultative Forum congratulates the people and government of Zamfara state on the safe release of the kidnapped schoolgirls from the Government Girls Secondary School in the state.

“We are also happy with the federal government’s decision to ban flights in the state.

“We also plead with the government to extend the ban to other states like Benue, Taraba, Borno where there are rumors that helicopters frequently drop arms for bandits and insurgents operating in these states.

“We believe that such an extended ban will curtail the operations of the criminals in these areas.”