By Bolaji Ogundele, Abuja

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

A statement yesterday in Abuja by his Senior Special Assistant on Media and Publicity, Mallam Garba Shehu, reads: “President Buhari has lauded the gallant pilot of the Nigerian Air Force (NAF) 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 said.

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.”