NAF Warns Against Circulating Video From Alleged Crash Site

The Nigerian Air Force has warned those spreading videos from the alleged crash site with gory pictures of dead military personnel, asking them to rethink the consequences of their actions on the morale of troops and families of deceased personnel.

It made this known while reacting to a video circulating on social media, purported to have captured the wreckage of the crashed MI-171 helicopter with bodies of some air force personnel in Chukuba Village, Shiroro Local Government Area of Niger State.

NAF spokesperson, Air Commodore Edward Gabkwet, in a statement released on Wednesday, August 16, said crashes are not peculiar to the Air Force.

Gabkwet who stated that the NAF won't give in to the propaganda peddled by terrorists on the crashed aircraft, urged those circulating the video to stop aiding and abetting the “propaganda tendencies of terrorists”, adding that it could dampen the morale of the troops.

The statement read;

“The attention of the Nigerian Air Force 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 organisations involved in counterinsurgency and counterterrorism operations, incidences of fatalities, mishaps, and crashes are sometimes inevitable. For the NAF, the last 8 years have seen an increased level of air operations in efforts at checkmating the nefarious activities of terrorists and criminal elements in the country.

“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 Service will never shy away from unraveling the probable cause of the crash to draw lessons.

“For those aiding and abetting the propaganda tendencies of terrorists, deliberately or inadvertently, by spreading the videos of the alleged crash site with gory pictures of dead military personnel, the need to rethink the consequences of their actions on the morale of troops, families of deceased personnel as well as on Nigeria’s national security is imperative.

“For the NAF and indeed the entire members of the Armed Forces, our resolve and determination to bring the current security situation in Niger State and indeed all troubled spots in the country remains unshaken. If anything, we are determined more than ever before, to take on the enemy frontally until they are brought to their knees.”