NAF reacts to terrorists’ claim of downing military helicopter in Niger State
Nigerian Air Force (NAF) has reacted to the claims contained in a viral video by terrorists claiming responsibility for shooting down a military helicopter in a village in Shiroro local government area, last Monday.
According to NAF, the claim by the terrorists was a ‘mere propaganda,’ which is only being responded to because of ‘concerns expressed by well-meaning Nigerians.’
It would be recalled that to a NAF attack helicopter reportedly crashed while on a rescue mission in response to a call put to it by soldiers who had been ambushed after also responding to a distress call to confront cattle rustlers in Wushishi local government area of the same Niger State.
The soldiers were said to have been overwhelm, by the heavily-armed terrorists, resulting in heavy casualties on both sides.
The helicopter was rushed in to evacuate the casualties, said to be seven wounded troops, but crashed immediately taking off.
The Defence Headquarters (DHQ) has refused to explain the cause of the crash amid claims by terrorists that they shot it the aircraft down.
Spokesman of the Air Force, Air Commodore Edward Gabkwet, reacting to terrorists’ claims of responsibility in shooting down the aircraft, said: “While it is not in the character of NAF to respond to such claims, particularly one peddled by terrorists, concerns expressed by well-meaning Nigerians on the need to address the propaganda becomes imperative.
“Like all military organizations involved in counterinsurgency and counter-terrorism operations, incidences of fatalities, mishaps, and crashes are sometimes inevitable.
“With heightened levels of air operations, occasioned by an enhanced fleet, the likelihood of air mishaps and accidents at times become unavoidable and inevitable due to various reasons.
“Indeed, the Chief of the Air Staff, Air Marshal Hasan Abubakar said this much when he hosted Governor Umaru Bago of Niger State, yesterday, August 15, 2023, at his office where he noted that the rates of aircraft accidents/incidences are directly proportional to the heightened level of air operations.
”While the NAF regrets such unfortunate incidents, especially as they involve the loss of lives of our colleagues, the Service will never shy away from unraveling the probable cause of the crash to draw lessons.
“For those aiding and abetting the propaganda tendencies of terrorists, deliberately or inadvertently, by spreading the videos of the alleged crash site with gory pictures of dead military personnel, the need to rethink the consequences of their actions on the morale of troops, families of deceased personnel as well as on Nigeria’s national security is imperative.
“For the NAF and indeed the entire members of the Armed Forces, our resolve and determination to bring the current security situation in Niger State and indeed all troubled spots in the country remains unshaken.
“If anything, we are determined more than ever before, to take on the enemy frontally until they are brought to their knees.
