The Arewa Consultative Forum (ACF) has called for a full investigation into the alleged arrest of a helicopter supplying arms and food to bandits in some North-west states of Nigeria.
It also called for the extension of the no-fly-zone order to Yobe, Borno, Taraba and Benue states as done in Zamfara state months back.
ACF National Publicity Secretary Emmanuel Yawe stated this Monday in a statement.
A former Head of State Abdulsalami Abubakar was alleged to have a link with the said helicopter by some online media platforms. The helicopter was allegedly sighted supplying arms and food items to bandits in Niger state.
But the retired army general, who also chairs the National Peace Committee, has described the reports as “false, unfounded.”
ACF speaks
Making its position know in a statement, ACF publicity scribe, Mr. Yawe said: “Early in March this year, at the height of the kidnapping of students of the Jangebe Government Girls Secondary School in Zamfara, the Federal Government slammed a ban of flights over the state.
“In reaction, our National Chairman, Chief Audu Ogbe, issued a statement calling for the ban to be extended to states such as Borno, Taraba, Benue, Yobe where there were rumours that arms, foodstuffs and other supplies were being dropped for bandits by a mysterious helicopter, the forum said.
“Today, there are various accounts that a helicopter that has been used to drop supplies for the criminals has been arrested. The accounts are rather confusing, with the rather scandalous accusation that a former Head of State, General Abubakar Abdulsalami is the owner of the aircraft. The General has since dismissed the rumour that he owns it.
“We have diligently followed these sordid revelations in the media. The Arewa Consultative Forum is convinced that there is a need for an open and transparent investigation on the orders of the President, Commander in Chief, Muhammadu Buhari.
“We hope the result of this investigation will clear whatever doubts there are about righting our security challenges.”
