NAF Helicopter Crash: Terrorist group claims responsibility
…as NAF refutes claim, says air mishaps are unavoidable
Dogo Gide Armed Group, a terrorist group have claimed responsibility for the crashed Nigerian Airforce (NAF) MI-171 helicopter that happened at Chukuba Village in Shiroro Local Government Area of Niger State.
However, reacting to the claims by the terrorists, the Director of NAF Public Relations, Air Commodore, Edward Gabkwet in a statement reacting to the viral video showing the alleged crashed aircraft and remains of soldiers, noted that those aiding and abetting the propaganda tendencies of terrorists, by spreading the videos of the alleged crash site with gory pictures of dead military personnel, should rethink the consequences of their actions on the morale of troops and families.
He said the Force would not give in to terrorists propaganda aimed at weakening the resolve of the Force in collaborating with other troops to fight insecurity headlong and bring criminal elements in the country to their knees.
According to the Force, “While it is not in the character of the 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.”
The Force noted that, “Like all military organisations involved in counter-insurgency and counterterrorism operations, incidences of fatalities, mishaps and crashes are sometimes inevitable.
“For the NAF, the last eight years has seen an increased level of air operations in efforts at checkmating the nefarious activities of terrorists and criminal elements in the country.
“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, on Tuesday 15 August 2023, at his office where he noted that the rates of aircraft accidents and 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 unravelling the probable cause of the crash with a view to drawing 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, they 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,” the statement clarified.
The Force added that its resolve and determination to bring the current security situation in Niger State and indeed all troubled spots in the country remains unshaken.
“In fact, if anything, we are determined more than ever before, to take on the enemy frontally until they are brought to their knees.
“While calling on all Nigerians to continue to support the Armed Forces of Nigerian and other security agencies as we all jointly confront our common enemies, the NAF wishes to appreciate the President Bola Ahmed Tinubu for his message of condolence and words of encouragement.
“Our appreciation also goes to other well-meaning Nigerians for their support,” the statement read.
