Nigerian Airforce reveals disappearance of jet on Boko Haram mission

 

A fighter jet operated by the Nigerian AirForce has lost contact with radar in Borno state, according to reports.

This was contained in a statement issued on Wednesday, March 31, by Edward Gabkwet, the airforce spokesperson.

The jet was on mission to provide support for troops on the ground fighting Boko Haram insurgents, Gabkwet stated.

He also disclosed that the whereabouts of the jet is unknown; but a search effort is in progress.

“A Nigerian Air Force (NAF) Alpha-Jet has lost contact with radar in Borno State, while on interdiction mission in support of ground troops,” he said in a statement on Thursday.

“The mission was part of the ongoing counterinsurgency operations in the North East. The loss of radar contact occurred at about 5:08 pm on 31 March 2021.

“Details of the whereabouts of the aircraft or likely cause of contact loss are still sketchy but will be relayed to the general public as soon as they become clear.

“Meanwhile, search and rescue efforts are ongoing.”

The incident comes a month after an aircraft of the airforce crashed at the Abuja airport — with all seven personnel on board dead.

The Nigerian NAF201, a B350 aircraft had departed Abuja at 1033UTC with seven persons on board; including two crew.

The aircraft reported engine failure and also crash landed on its final approach to Abuja airport runway.

The airforce personnel who died were said to be en route to Niger state; to rescue students abducted from Government Science College, Kagara.

Meanwhile, former Lagos State Governor, Asiwaju Bola Tinubu has said that he made an error; while calling for more youths to be drafted into the Nigerian Army; in a bid to adequately tackle the nation’s security challenges.

MuchTalksBlog also reported that Tinubu on Monday asked the Federal Government to recruit 50 million youths into the Nigerian Army.

Addressing guests on Monday at the 12th colloquium organised in his honour; the Asiwaju stated that the recruitment move will help restore peace within troubled regions; and also stop miscreants from recruiting young people to do their biddings.

However, a communique by Tinubu’s media aide Tunde Rahman on Tuesday, March 30, stated that contrary to comments made at the colloquium in Kano State where his 69th birthday was celebrated; the intended recommendation was to have fifty thousand (50,000) youths recruited into various national security agencies; including the Nigeria Police Force and the Nigerian Army.