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Tag: nigerian air force

  • Missing Alpha Jet: We are thoroughly analysing video released by Boko Haram – Nigerian Air Force

    Missing Alpha Jet: We are thoroughly analysing video released by Boko Haram – Nigerian Air Force

    The Nigerian Air Force (NAF) has said it is currently analysing the video released by Boko Haram, claiming to have shot down the Alpha Jet that was declared missing.

    TheNewsGuru.com (TNG) reports Air Commodore Edward Gabkwet, NAF’s Director of Public Relations and Information made this known on Friday night.

    He stated that although the video is still being thoroughly analysed, most parts of it were doctored to give the false impression that the aircraft was shot down.

    Recall that a NAF Alpha Jet aircraft was reported missing in Borno State on 31 March 2021 after losing radar contact.

    Meanwhile, a faction of Boko Haram came out to claim responsibility for the missing aircraft, saying they shot it down.

    However, the Nigerian Air Force is saying it is almost impossible for an aircraft to have exploded mid-air in the manner depicted in the video.

    Gabkwet in the statement stressed an explosive impact of that nature would have scattered the debris of the aircraft across several miles.

    The statement reads: “The attention of the Nigerian Air Force (NAF) has been drawn to some videos being circulated on Social Media, as well as media reports drawn therefrom, alleging that the NAF Alpha Jet aircraft, which was reported missing in Borno State on 31 March 2021 after losing radar contact, was shot down by terrorists.

    “One of such videos, in particular, began with sporadic shooting by several terrorists, including underaged children on motorcycles and vehicles.

    “It later skipped abruptly to a scene depicting an aircraft exploding mid-air, supposedly as a result of enemy action.

    “Another part of the video showed a terrorist, who, while standing by the wreckage, claimed that they had shot down the NAF aircraft.

    “Although the video is still being thoroughly analysed, it is evident that most parts of the video were deliberately doctored to give the false impression that the aircraft was shot down.

    “For instance, the video clip failed to show the correlation between the sporadic shooting, which even from casual observation was obviously aimed at ground targets, and the sudden mid-air aircraft explosion.

    “In addition, it is almost impossible for an aircraft to have exploded mid-air, in the manner depicted in the video, and still have a good part of its fuselage, including its tail, intact. Indeed, an explosive impact of that nature would have scattered the debris of the aircraft across several miles.

    “It is obvious that the Boko Haram Sect, in its characteristic manner of employing false propaganda, is seeking to claim credit for what was obviously an air accident that could have been caused by several other reasons; particularly at a time when the capability of the group to inflict mayhem has been significantly degraded by the Armed Forces of Nigeria.

    “Consequently, Nigerians are please advised to ignore the contents of the videos making the rounds until all investigations as to how the aircraft crashed are completed.

    “The NAF, on its part, remains resolute and will continue to work assiduously, in synergy with sister Services and other security agencies, to rid the North East of all terrorist elements”.

  • JUST IN:NAF’s combat Aircraft on routine mission in Northeast disappears from radar

    JUST IN:NAF’s combat Aircraft on routine mission in Northeast disappears from radar

    A Nigerian Air Force (NAF) aircraft on routine mission in North-east has lost radar contact.

    In a terse release, the Director of Public Relations and Information (DOPRI), Air Commodore Edward Gabkwet confirmed the incident.

    The release read, “A NAF aircraft on routine mission in support of own troops at one of the Theatres of Operation in the Northern part of Nigeria has lost radar contact.”

    The DOPRI, however, noted that efforts were currently ongoing to locate its whereabouts, adding that more “details to follow”.

    He did not state how many people were on aboard.

    Gabkwet said the plane was “on routine mission in support of own troops at one of the Theatres of Operation in the Northern part of Nigeria”.

    “Efforts are currently ongoing to locate its whereabouts. Details to follow”.

    Gabkwet did not specify whether the aircraft was lost in the North east or Northwest or even the North central part of Nigeria.

    The Nigerian Air Force is engaged in various operations in the conflict zones, to give ground troops support.

    On 21 February, an Air Force plane on a mission to Minna Niger state crashed in Abuja.

    All the six persons aboard the B350 aircraft died as it crash-landed on the final approach path of Abuja Runway 22.

    The Nigerian Air Force is one of Africa’s largest.

    In its fleet are 8 Chinese Chengdu F-7s, 13 Dassault-Dornier Alpha Jets, 3 JF-17 Thunders Block II with more on order.

    It will soon receive six of the 12 Super Tucano aircraft ordered from US.

    It has also placed an order for 24 M-346 FAs, Helicopter gunships, armed attack drones and military transport aircraft.

  • BREAKING: Major shake-up hits Nigerian Air Force; senior officers redeployed

    BREAKING: Major shake-up hits Nigerian Air Force; senior officers redeployed

    The Nigerian Air Force (NAF) on Friday announced a major shake-up, redeploying senior officers, including new branch chiefs, air officers commanding, spokesperson and others.

    According to a statement by Air Vice Marshal Ibikunle Daramola, Director of Public Relations and Information, the redeployment is part of routine exercise aimed at re-invigorating operational effectiveness and enhancing service delivery of the NAF.

    The NAF appointed new Branch Chiefs, Air Officers Commanding (AOCs), Commandants of Tri-Service Institutions and other functionaries, including a new Spokesperson.

    The newly appointed Branch Chiefs are Air Vice Marshal (AVM) Dahiru Sanda, who is now the Chief of Defence Policy and Plans (CDPP), Defence Headquarters (DHQ), AVM Remigus Ekeh, erstwhile Chief of Standards and Evaluation Headquarters NAF (HQ NAF), who is now appointed Chief of Policy and Plans (COPP), HQ NAF, former AOC Mobility Command (MC), Yenagoa, AVM Ibukun Ojeyemi, is now appointed as the Chief of Air Intelligence (CAI), HQ NAF, while AVM Mahmud Madi has been appointed as the Air Secretary, HQ NAF.

    Also affected by the new appointments are AVM Mahmoud Ahmed, who is now the Chief of Defence Transformation and Innovation (CDTI), DHQ, AVM Cletus Udeagulu is now the Chief of Communication Information Systems (CCIS), HQ NAF while AVM Isah Muhammad is appointed Chief of Administration, (COA), HQ NAF. AVM Pam Chollom has been appointed as the Chief of Logistics (CLOG), HQ NAF, while the former AOC, Air Training Command (ATC), Kaduna, AVM Musa Mukhtar has been moved to HQ NAF as the Chief of Aircraft Engineering (CAcE). The immediate past AOC, Tactical Air Command (TAC), Makurdi, AVM Olusegun Philip is now Chief of Standards and Evaluation (COSE), HQ NAF.

    In the same vein, the erstwhile COPP, HQ NAF, AVM Mohammed Idris has been appointed Commandant, Armed Forces Resettlement Centre, Oshodi, the former Director of Plans, HQ NAF, AVM Ebenezer Alade, has been appointed Commandant, Armed Forces Command and Staff College (AFCSC), Jaji, AVM Musibau Olatunji, erstwhile CAcE, now appointed as the Commandant Air Force Institute of Technology (AFIT), Kaduna, while AVM Ibrahim Ali now takes over as the Commandant Air Force War College (AFWC), Makurdi. AVM Idi Lubo, former Director of Policy, has been appointed AOC TAC, Makurdi.

    AVM Jackson Yusuf is now the AOC ATC, Kaduna, AVM Aliyu Bello is now the AOC MC, Yenagoa while AVM Sunday Makinde, former College Secretary, National Defence College (NDC), is now the AOC, Logistics Command (LC), Ikeja. AVM Frank Oparah is appointed as the AOC Ground Training Command, Enugu while AVM Peter Uzezi is now the Director General, Defence Research and Development Bureau, DHQ.

    Former Director of Public Relations and Information (DOPRI), AVM Ibikunle Dramola has been appointed as the Director of Plans, HQ NAF. AVM Garba Abubakar is appointed as the new Group Managing Director, NAF Holding Company, AVM Emmanuel Wonah as the Coordinator Project Implementation Monitoring Team, HQ NAF while former Commandant, AFCSC, AVM Abubakar Liman, is now the Deputy Chief of Defence Intelligence, Defence Intelligence Agency (DIA). AVM Mfon Ekpoh has been redeployed to the Nigerian Defence Academy as Deputy Commandant while AVM Emmanuel Chukwu has been appointed as the College Secretary, NDC.

    Furthermore, AVM Abraham Adole is appointed as the Deputy Theatre Commander, Operation LAFIYA DOLE (OPLD) while Air Commodore (Air Cdre) Nnamdi Ananaba, takes over as the Air Component Commander OPLD.

    Also, Air Cdre Dauda Prayero has been appointed as the new Chairman Air Expo and International Liaison Secretariat while Air Cdre Olabode Babalola takes over as the Chief of Medical Services (CMS), HQ NAF. Air Cdre Edward Gabkwet has been appointed as the new NAF Spokesperson.

    The newly appointed and redeployed senior officers are expected to take over their new offices not later than Thursday, 11 March 2021.

  • Nigerian Air Force aircraft neutralises fleeing Boko Haram terrorists

    The Nigerian Air Force (NAF) says Air Task Force (ATF) of Operation Lafiya Dole has successfully neutralised several Boko Haram Terrorists (BHTs) at Bulagalaye and Kwakwa, both in Borno, through successful air strikes.

    Olatokunbo Adesanya, an air vice marshal and NAF’s Director of Public Relations and Information, who confirmed this in a statement on Friday in Abuja, said the operation was conducted on Sunday.

    “The successful air strikes on both locations were as a result of efforts to trail and neutralise fleeing terrorists after Nigerian Army (NA) troops had repelled the attack on their location around Bama.

    “Upon receiving reports of the attack, the ATF scrambled an Intelligence, Surveillance and Reconnaissance (ISR) platform and the Alpha Jet aircraft to locate the fleeing terrorists.

    “Consequently, the insurgents, who were seen assembled at a staging area in Bulagalaye, began to disperse upon sighting the attack platforms.

    “However, the NAF fighter aircraft acquired and attacked the fleeing insurgents with bombs and rockets.

    “As a result of the air strikes, the BHTs were neutralised while their vehicles and weapons were destroyed, leading to a thick cloud of black smoke,” he said.

    Mr Adesanya said intelligence reports later revealed that a smaller bunch of the BHTs had re-assembled in a settlement known as Kwakwa.

    He said the ATF then conducted a wave of strikes on the location.

    “Overhead Kwakwa the ISR platform successfully identified the terrorists’ location and vectored the attack platforms to the target area, which was attacked with bombs and rockets,” he said.

    He said some of the terrorists were seen fleeing towards a nearby settlement and further attacked with rockets and then neutralised

    “The Air Task Force will continue to conduct missions in support of the efforts of our troops in the counterinsurgency operations in the Northeast while also providing Close Air Support when requested to do so,” he said.

  • How Nigerian Air Force air strike injured Boko Haram leader, Shekau

    How Nigerian Air Force air strike injured Boko Haram leader, Shekau

    Boko Haram leader, Abubakar Shekau has been injured in an air strike in the Northeast, AFP reports on Wednesday.

    The news network said two Nigerian Air Force jets fired at fighters who had gathered for prayers in Balla village, on the edge of the Sambisa Forest, last Friday.

    “Shekau was wounded in the bombings and is believed to be receiving treatment near the Nigerian border with Cameroon around Kolofata,” said one source with contacts within Boko Haram.

    “His deputy, Abba Mustapha, alias Malam Abba, was killed in the attack along with another key lieutenant, Abubakar Gashua, alias Abu Aisha,” he added.

    A member of the civilian militia in Maiduguri, Babakura Kolo said “Shekau was injured and a number of commanders were killed.

    “Among them is his deputy called Malam Abba. They suffered heavy casualties because the bombings targeted a large gathering of his followers attending Friday prayers.”

    Recall that TheNewsGuru.com recently reported that airstrikes killed some suspected leaders of the Boko Haram sect.

    The Director of Air Force Public Relations and Information, Air Commodore Olatokunbo Adesanya, in the said report claimed that the attack was effected following a NAF intelligence.

    ALSO READ ..Several Boko Haram leaders killed in air strike

    The statement said, “At dawn on 28 April 2017, the Nigerian Air Force Component of Operation LAFIYA DOLE conducted an air interdiction mission on some remnants of the Boko Haram Terrorists in a village 3.42 km Northeast of Mangosum.

    “On the previous day, the Nigerian Air Force (NAF) had successfully provided air cover to troops of 27 Task Force Battalion thereby enabling them to repel an attack by the Boko Haram Terrorists.