Nigeria intensifies war against terrorism, orders 24 fighter jets from Italy

The Federal Government has ordered the procurement of 24 M-346 Alenia Aermacchi Master fighter jets from Italian aircraft maker, Leonardo, as Muhammadu Buhari-led administration strives to finish off the war against terrorists on a high with a few months to leaving office.

The attack aircraft are said to worth an €1.2 billion and would see the Italian jets replacing the aging Dassault Alpha Jet A/E in use by the Nigerian Air Force.

Leonardo is also expected to provide aircraft, training, support and ammunition to Nigeria as a part of the deal.

Buhari has repeated said his administration would rid the country of terrorism by the end of this year.

As a partnership, the Italian Air Force, according to a Nigerian military source, will train pilots of the Nigerian Air Force at the International Flight Training School in Galatina (Lecce) and the Decimomannu Air Base (Sardinia) in Italy.

The US government in April approved the sale of the Bell AH-1Z Viper advanced attack helicopter fornearly $1 billion.

The US State Department has announced approval of the sale of 24 Bell AH-1Z Viper helicopters and related equipment valued at $997 million to Nigeria.

The military in a notice to the Congress gave the related equipment as guidance, night vision and targeting systems as well as engines and training aids.

Meanwhile, the military authorities have said no Nigerian territory is under the control of the terrorist group, Boko Haram, or any other group for that matter.

They said military fire was hitting the insurgents hard and forcing the terrorists into forests and other unmanaged spaces, including the Lake Chad area.