By Linus Aleke
The Nigerian Air Force (NAF), has warned citizens who are sympathetic to the terrorists, to desist forthwith from amplifying terrorists’ propaganda materials and make believe skits on social media.
The Service, also noted that those aiding and abetting the propaganda tendencies of terrorists, deliberately or inadvertently, by spreading the videos of the alleged crash site of military helicopter with gory pictures of dead military personnel, need to rethink the consequences of their actions on the morale of troops, families of deceased personnel, as well as national security.
Director of Public Relations and Information Nigerian Air Force, Air Commodore Edward Gabkwet, in a statement assured citizens of the resolve and determination of the NAF and indeed the entire Armed Forces, to bring an end to the current security situation in Niger State and indeed all troubled spots in the country.
Air Commodore Gabkwet, said the military is determined more than ever before, to take on the enemy frontally until they are brought to their knees.
The statement reads in part, “The attention of the Nigerian Air Force (NAF) 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 organizations involved in counterinsurgency and counterterrorism operations, incidences of fatalities, mishaps and crashes are sometimes inevitable.
For the NAF, the last 8 years has seen an increased level of air operations in efforts at checkmating the nefarious activities of terrorists and criminal elements in the country.
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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 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”.
While the NAF regrets such unfortunate incidents, especially as they involve the loss of lives of our colleagues, the NAF Spokesperson said that the Service will never shy away from unravelling the probable cause of the crash with a view to drawing lessons.
