By Bolaji Ogundele, Abuja

President Muhammadu Buhari has commended the gallantry of Flight Lieutenant Abayomi Dairo, an officer of the Nigeria Air Force, who narrowly escaped death in an operation in Zamfara State last Sunday.

Suspect bandits had attacked the aircraft being flown by Flt. Lt. Dairo, forcing him to initiate an emergency ejection from the aircraft before he was later rescued after the attack.

According to a statement by his Senior Special Assistant on Media and Publicity, Mallam Garba Shehu, the President expressed shock and distress over the news of the attack but said he was also relieved when he was briefed about the pilot’s rescue.

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“President Muhammadu Buhari has commended the gallant pilot of the Nigerian Air Force Alpha Jet, Flight Lieutenant Abayomi Dairo, who successfully ejected from an aircraft that came under ‘intense ground fire from bandits’ in Zamfara State, Northwest, at the weekend.

“The President, who was briefed on the successful operation by the nation’s defence forces to rescue the pilot, said he was pained by news of the air crash,” the statement reads.

Quoting the President further, the statement added: “I was shocked by the devastating news of the air crash but felt much relieved, following the successful ejection by the pilot and his eventual rescue. May the injured pilot recover at the earliest time.’’