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Super Tucano to be used against Boko Haram not IPOB, US tells FG

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The United States Government has asked Nigerian Government to deploy the Super Tucano aircraft to engage Boko Haram terrorists in the northern part of the country.

US Principal Deputy National Security Advisor, Mr. Jonathan Finer, made the remarks while briefing journalists earlier in the week during an event.

Mr. Finer warned the Government against deploying the security equipment in the South-East despite designating the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB) as a terrorist organisation and its militant arm, the Eastern Security Network (ESN).

Speaking, Finer said the terms of the agreement during the sale of the 12 Tucano aircraft were explicit and must be kept to the latter.

He contrasted Boko Haram that have engaged the Nigerian state in a decade-long insurgency killing thousands and displacing millions with IPOB that is engaged in a secessionist agitation to break up the country.

He 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 agreement with the United States over the aircraft also said it would be not deployed against bandits but will only been deployed to fight Boko Haram terrorists in the North-East.

Another pro-Biafra group, the Movement for the Actualisation of the Sovereign State of Biafra (MASSOB) had expressed fears that the Nigerian Government will deploy the Tucano planes to attack Biafra agitators.

Speaking, MASSOB spokesperson, Samuel Edeson, noted that 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.

According to him, their agenda is to annihilate Ndigbo and take over the South East.

Meanwhile, the Federal Government had confirmed receipt of the 12 A-29 Super Tucano aircraft at a cost of $423 million.

The first batch of six of the 12 Tucano aircraft arrived at Kano at about 12:34pm on July 22, 2021.

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

The second batch of the Tucano aircraft arrived on October 18, 2021.

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