Kebbi State Governor, Nasir Idris, has urged the Nigerian Air Force (NAF) to establish a base in the state to better address ongoing security threats.
He made the appeal while hosting the Chief of the Air Staff, Air Marshal Hassan Abubakar, at the Government House in Birnin Kebbi.
Governor Idris explained that the request was necessary due to repeated incursions by Lakurawa bandits from neighbouring Niger and Benin Republics, along with attacks by criminal groups from Sokoto, Zamfara, and Niger States.
He noted that Kebbi’s international airport could serve as a strategic asset for the establishment of a NAF base, enhancing the fight against terrorism and other forms of insecurity.
“Kebbi’s location is strategic, sharing borders with both Niger and Benin Republics. The state was once peaceful, but with the influx of cross-border bandits, we have experienced increasing attacks. Armed groups also infiltrate from neighbouring states, strike our communities, and retreat to their hideouts,” Idris said.
The governor commended the security agencies for their commitment and revealed that his administration had procured 85 Toyota Hilux vehicles to support their operations and improve morale.
On the Sokoto–Badagry Super Highway, which passes extensively through Kebbi, Idris added that the state had purchased 20 Toyota Hilux vehicles for patrol duties, ensuring the safety of engineers and workers executing the project.