Boko Haram: Military takes delivery of attack helicopters

  Boko Haram: Military takes delivery of attack helicopters

The Defence authorities have started taking delivery of some military hardware required for the prosecution of the war against the Boko Haram insurgents in the North-East.

Investigation revealed that the military hardware were imported from Russia, Belarus and other Eastern European countries.

It was learnt that some of the items were received at the Port of Lagos and were being moved to designated locations in Abuja and other parts of the country.

Our correspondent sighted several Russian-made Armoured Personnel Carriers being conveyed in long open military trucks along Okenne-Lokoja-Abuja Express Way.

Some other heavy trucks (painted in military green) were also sighted conveying containers of items suspected to be military hardware along the same routes.

It was however learnt that the military was receiving the items in batches from Russian, Belarus and other European countries by sea and by air.

A senior military officer said on Wednesday that the military equipment were being received at the Apapa Port, the Murtala Mohammed International Airport, Lagos, the Aminu Kano International Airport, Kano, and Kaduna.

The officer added that containers of spare parts for attack helicopters had also been received by the Defence authorities early in the week.

It was further learnt that the attack helicopters and other platforms would be coupled in the country.

“It is true that we have started receiving some military hardware in the country. Of course, we couldn’t get them from our friends in the West. It is no longer news that they refused to sell to us.

“We are getting the items from Russia, Belarus and other Eastern European countries. They are coming in batches. We are receiving them in batches both by sea and by air.

“Apart from the items from Lagos, there are others coming in by air from the air ports in Kaduna and Kano.

“Some of the items that are being received include the APCs that you saw, components of some Air Force platforms. Yes, there are some attack helicopters; they are to be coupled together in the country. These are expected to boost the already high morale of the troops,” the source said.

When our correspondent contacted the Director, Defence Information, Maj. Gen. Chris Olukolade, for his comment on the issue, he neither confirmed nor denied the arrival of the items.

He said, “We are incrementally enhancing our stock in all the mission areas as part of the ongoing measures to enhance our effectiveness.”