NAF Crash: Service Chiefs Visit Troops, Warn Against Spreading Video

In the aftermath of a military plane crash in Niger State, the Chief of Defence Staff (CDS), General Christopher Musa and the Chief of Air Staff (CAS), Air Marshal Hasan Abubakar, have visited troops in Minna and Kaduna to cheer them up.

Abubakar cautioned Nigerians against aiding and abetting terrorist’s propaganda, deliberately or inadvertently, by spreading the videos of the alleged crash site with gory pictures of dead military personnel.

 The NAF boss reminded the citizens of the consequences of their actions on troops’ morale, adding that Nigeria’s national security is imperative.

The director of Public Relations and Information (DOPRI), Air Commodore Edward Gabkwet, was reacting, on behalf of the CAS, 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.

The helicopter crashed on Monday during a casualty evacuation mission.

He said while it was not in the character of NAF to respond to terrorists’ propaganda, concerns expressed by well-meaning Nigerians on the need to address the propaganda had become imperative.

He said like all military organisations involved in counterinsurgency and counterterrorism operations, “incidences of fatalities, mishaps and crashes are sometimes inevitable”. 

Gabkwet noted that the NAF had in the last eight years seen an increased level of air operations in efforts aimed at checkmating the nefarious activities of terrorists and criminal elements in the country.

“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,” he said.

He recalled that the Chief of the Air Staff, Air Marshal Hasan Abubakar, stated this much when he hosted Governor Umaru Bago of Niger State on Tuesday August 15, 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 unravelling the probable cause of the crash with a view to drawing 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,” he added.

The spokesman reiterated the resolve and determination of NAF and the entire members of the Armed Forces ensure that “the current security situation in Niger State and indeed all troubled spots in the country remains unshaken.

 “In fact, if anything, we are determined more than ever before, to take on the enemy frontally until they are brought to their knees,” he added.

He further called on all Nigerians to continue to support the Armed Forces of Nigerian and other security agencies as they jointly confront the common enemies.

He expressed appreciation to President Bola Ahmed Tinubu for his message of condolence and words of encouragement.

During his visit to some wounded soldiers yesterday at 44 Nigerian Army Reference Hospital, Kaduna, General Musa encouraged them to keep hope alive and assured them that the military will do all within it’ powers to give them the best of treatment even if it requires sending them outside the shores of his country.

He called on officers and men of the Nigerian Armed Forces to rededicate themselves and give their best to the defence of Nigeria.

The CDS who noted that the military job comes with risk, however, assured the troops that the Nigerian Armed Forces authorities would ensure the welfare and treatment of its wounded soldiers, even its requires being flown abroad.

NAF Helicopter On Evacuation Mission Crashes In Shiroro

He said the purpose of the visit, which was routine to military hospitals, was to encourage the personnel, appreciate their sacrifices to the nation and see how they are recuperating.

“Without the troops, nothing can be done in the fight against insecurity and criminality. We are therefore together with them and praying for their quick recovery.

“We feel your pains and that is why I am here to encourage you to keep hope alive, we will do everything possible medically to ensure that you get the best of treatment in Nigeria and abroad when the need arises” he assured them.

General Musa noted that such a visit would aid their recuperation process and give them a true feeling that they are not alone.

Harping on the significance of the healthy state of the Nigerian troops, the CDS said they were ready to ensure at all costs that they get the best treatment.

“Even if it will take us taking them abroad for treatment for other surgeries that cannot be done here, we will do that,” he said.

He however expressed delight with the Hospital management for maintaining a clean environment and taking good care of the wounded soldiers.