The time is ticking ferociously against defiant Gambian President Yahya Jammeh as the Nigerian government confirmed that it has deployed fighter jets and at least 200 soldiers to join their Senegalese counterparts to uproot him from power if he fails to hand over power to president-elect, Adama Barrow within the ultimatum given him by ECOWAS.
The spokesperson of the Nigerian Air Force, Ayodele Famuyiwa, confirmed the deployment in a statement released to the media on Wednesday.
“The Nigerian Air Force (NAF) has deployed to Senegal as part of Nigerian contingent of Economic Community of West African States Military Intervention in Gambia (ECOMIG) – a standby force tasked by ECOWAS Heads of State to enforce the December 1, 2016 election mandate in the The Gambia,” Mr. Famuyiwa, a Group Captain, said.
“The NAF today moved a contingent of 200 men and air assets comprising fighter jets, transport aircraft, Light Utility Helicopter as well as Intelligence, Surveillance and Reconnaissance aircraft to Dakar from where it is expected to operate into Gambia.”
ECOWAS had indicated its intention to forcefully eject Jammeh from office if he remained in power beyond Thursday, January 19, the date he is constitutionally expected to handover to Barrow.
But Mr. Jammeh has refused to toe the path of honour, saying he will stay in office until the Supreme Court hears his petition challenging Mr. Barrow’s widely acclaimed victory.
Only yesterday he declared a 90 days state of emergency and warned those interfering with the internal politics of Gambia to stay – threatening that the Gambian Army are ready to defend the sovereignty of the country.
Meanwhile, Senegal says its army is ready to intervene in Gambia if by midnight no solution is reached.
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