Missing Jet: Nigeria Air Force dismisses Boko Haram members claim despite viral video

The Nigerian Air Force has dismissed claims by Boko Haram sect that its members brought down the missing Alpha jet on Wednesday, March 31.

Abubakar Shekau-led faction of Boko Haram has claimed responsibility for the crash involving an alpha jet operated by the Nigerian Air Force (NAF).

The sect members released a video claiming responsibility for bringing down the jet. However, in an interview with newsmen, the Director Public Relations and Information Nigerian Air Force, Air Commodore Edward Gabkwet, said the viral video could be clips from a previous incident and that the force will not be going into speculations based on the videos released.

The jet which was on a mission to provide support for troops on the ground fighting Boko Haram insurgents, had on Wednesday evening, March 31, lost contact with radar in Borno state.

HumAngle reported that the insurgents were seen in the video engaging the jet which was flying at low range in a gunfight.

The insurgents had machine guns, especially ones that appear to be anti-aircraft weapons. As soon as the jet crashes, they moved to the debris and removed some components of the jet.

Edward Gabkwet said “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 Nigerian Air Force aircraft number or the body of Air Force pilot or have you seen any Air Force uniform until we get all these details 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” he said