Nigerian Air Force Interested in Textron’s Scorpion Combat Jets

The Nigerian air force is concerned that efforts to acquire new combat aircraft from Textron Inc. and AirLand Enterprises LLC to battle Boko Haram militants will be blocked over concerns about the country’s human rights record.

“We are really handicapped in attacking the enemy where we want,” Air Vice Marshal R.A. Ojuawo, the director of operations for the Nigerian air force, said Tuesday. “We need capabilities for a timely response.”

Nigeria has battled the Islamic insurgent group Boko Haram over control of the country’s northeast. Nigeria in recent days retook the area of Chibok, where the insurgents kidnapped nearly 300 schoolgirls in April.

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