The service was reacting to the video circulating on social media allegedly depicting the wreckage of the crashed MI-171 helicopter with bodies of victims at Chukuba Village in Shiroro Local Government Area of Niger State.
In a statement by the NAF spokesperson, Air Commodore Edward Gabkwet noted that crashes are not peculiar to the Air Force, adding that in counterinsurgency and counterterrorism operations, incidences of fatalities, mishaps, and crashes are sometimes inevitable.
He said, “The attention of the Nigerian Air Force has been drawn to a video circulating on social media platforms allegedly depicting the wreckage of the crashed MI-171 helicopter with bodies of victims at Chukuba Village in Shiroro Local Government Area of Niger State. 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.
“Like all military organisations involved in counterinsurgency and counterterrorism operations, incidences of fatalities, mishaps, and crashes are sometimes inevitable. For the NAF, the last 8 years have seen an increased level of air operations in efforts at checkmating the nefarious activities of terrorists and criminal elements in the country.”
Gabkwet added that with heightened levels of air operations, occasioned by an enhanced fleet, the likelihood of air mishaps and accidents at times become unavoidable 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 15 August 2023, at his office where he noted that the rates of aircraft accidents/incidences are directly proportional to the heightened level of air operations,” the statement added.
He noted that the service would never shy away from unraveling the cause of the crash.
“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, “Gbkwet said.
He, however, urged those circulating the video to stop aiding and abetting the “propaganda tendencies of terrorists”, adding that it could dampen the morale of the troops.
“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, “the spokesperson stated.
He added the military remained resolute and would ensure the enemies are dealt with.
“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.”
He called on Nigerians to support the Armed Forces and other security agencies, vowing that the security agencies in the country would jointly confront the enemies.
