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Boko Haram claims responsibility for crashed NAF jet
By Modupe Shodeinde
A faction of the Boko Haram terrorist group, JAMA’ATU Ahlussunnah Lidda’awati Wal Jihad, has claimed responsibility for attacking the Nigerian Air Force (NAF) Alpha fighter jet, which crashed on Thursday evening in Konduga Local Council of Borno State.
The jet marked NAF 475, crashed 30 kilometres south of Maiduguri, the state capital, with two pilots, Flight Lieutenants John Abolarinwa and Ebiakpo Chapele.
In a footage released by the terrorist group, yesterday, members of the group were seen shooting down the aircraft. In the video, the group also showed fighters carrying an RPG and artillery equipment, as well as a body and the aircraft’s debris.
However, Director of Public Relations of NAF, Commodore Edward Gabkwet had refured the authenticity of the viral video.
According to him, the video is fraught with inconsistencies, which established that it was fake, adding that the lush vegetation in one of the clips suggest that it was not in the Northeast.
He stated that the video could be clips from previous incidents.
“We have seen some videos, but there is nothing that has proven that the aircraft in those clips belongs to us, or have you seen a NAF aircraft number or the body of pilot or any NAF uniform? Until we get all these details strengthen out, we are not going to go into speculation.
“That video could have been shot somewhere. I have seen four videos so far, one of them has lush vegetation in the background and I wonder where they have such vegetation in the Northeast. Unless they did something and they are releasing the clips bit by bit, we are waiting.
“Except we have evidence, because like I said, these persons have families and you cannot go to their wives, parents or wards; you must bring concrete evidence. There must be something to show,” the NAF Spokesman said.
He stated that the cause of crash and whereabouts of the pilot remained unknown as at yesterday.
Earlier yesterday, Gabkwet said NAF intelligence report indicated that the Alpha Jet aircraft (NAF475), which went off radar with two crewmembers, could have crashed on the fringe of Sambisa Forest.
According to him, NAF was not ruling out anything regarding the incident of crash and missing crewmembers. He said extensive search and rescue efforts were still ongoing by NAF surveillance aircraft, Special Forces and ground troops of the Nigerian Army.
“At this point, the NAF is not ruling out anything regarding Thursday’s incident,” he noted, adding that it remained hopeful that the pilots would soon be identified for rescue.”
