Quote:Olaleye Aluko



The Nigerian Air Force and the Nigerian Army , which are two active forces in the counter- insurgency war in the North -East, have lost over N 4. 8 bn in weaponry in the region between January and May , 2019 .

This sum is obtained from estimates of the crashed NAF Mi - 35 M helicopter , gun trucks , machine guns and other weapons stolen from army bases , according to military sources .

On January 2 , the air force’ s Mi -35 M attack helicopter crashed in the North -East while on a Boko Haram interdiction mission , killing five crew members comprising two pilots and three NAF personnel in Damasak , Borno State .
According to a document, Mi -35 M orders and deliveries , the crashed helicopter is estimated at over $ 12 million or N 4 .6 bn .

The records noted that Nigeria placed a contract for six Mi -35 M combat helicopters in August 2014 and received the first batch of two helicopters in December 2016 .

The second batch of two helicopters was delivered in April 2018 . But one of them crashed in Damasak on January 2 .

The records noted, “ The Brazilian Air Force signed a $ 150 m contract with Rosoboron export for 12 Mi -35 M helicopters in November 2008 . The first three helicopters were delivered in December 2009 .

“ Nigeria placed a contract for six Mi -35 M combat helicopters in August 2014 . The Nigerian Air Force received the first batch of two helicopters in December 2016 , while the second batch of two helicopters was delivered in April 2018 . ”

The NAF Director of Public Relations and Information , Air Commodore Ibikunle Daramola, had yet to pick call or respond to a message on estimates of the loss as of press time .

In January 2018 , a NAF Mi - 17 attack helicopter had also crashed in a counter- insurgency operation in Borno State , with claims from the Boko Haram factional leader, Abubakar Shekau , that his fighters shot down the military aircraft .
The Defence Headquarters , Abuja , however, refuted Shekau ’s claims.

Since January 2019 , at least five army bases in the North -East have been attacked by Boko Haram and the Islamic State West African Province fighters , leading not only to loss of soldiers , but also costly weapons .

Some weapons were also destroyed by the sect ’s Improvised Explosive Devices’ explosions .
SUNDAY PUNCH learnt that Boko Haram attacked army bases in Geidam , Yobe State ; Banki and a Forward Operating Base in Mararrabar Kimba , both in Borno State .

The fighters also attacked bases in the Gubio and the Magumeri Local Government Areas of Borno, carting away undisclosed ammunition .
Although the army didn’t confirm the loss of its weapons , evidence reinforced the developments .

On May 13 , the army confirmed that its 154 Task Force Battalion Commander , Lt Col Yusuf Aminu, and two soldiers were killed by IEDs planted by the Boko Haram on the Mauli -Borgozo Road . During the incident , two gun trucks and a Tata truck were damaged by the explosion , according to sources .

Estimates showed that the army had lost over N 200 m worth of weapons to insurgency since January, although some of them were currently being recovered from the terrorists .

The acting Director , Army Public Relations , Col Sagir Musa , did not returned our correspondent’ s call or respond to a text message sent to his phone as of press time .

The Chief of the Army Staff, Lt Gen Tukur Buratai , had , on Wednesday , assured troops of plans to induct more weapons into the Operation Lafiya Dole to enhance the counter- terrorism war .