By James Orji
The Nigerian Airforce pilot, Abayomi Dairo whose fighter jet crashed on Sunday after facing fire from bandits is alive, according to Nigeria’s Defence Headquarters. The Airforce had earlier denied the crash but later owned up to the mishap.
Briefing journalists on Monday, the Chief of Defence Staff, General Lucky Irabor said Dairo is currently in a medical facility for treatment after he escaped from bandits who were searching for him to kill him after he ejected himself from the aircraft before it crashed.
The Nigerian Airforce has also issued a statement claiming that Flight Lieutenant Dairo, has been rescued after intense gunfire by armed bandits grounded a Nigerian Airforce Alpha Jet aircraft in Zamfara State.
According to the Director of Public Relations and Information, Nigerian Air Force, Air Commodore, Edward Gabkwet, Dairo was returning from a successful air interdiction mission between the boundaries of Zamfara and Kaduna states when the aircraft came under attack and crashed.
The pilot, he said, escaped when he ejected from the aircraft before it crashed, adding that when he landed, the armed bandits gave him a hot chase.
Gabkwet said, “On July 18, 2021, around 12.45 pm, a Nigerian Air Force Alpha Jet aircraft, returning from a successful air interdiction mission between the boundaries of Zamfara and Kaduna states, came under intense enemy fire which led to its crash in Zamfara State.
“Luckily, the gallant pilot of the aircraft, Flight Lieutenant Abayomi Dairo, successfully ejected from the aircraft. Using his survival instincts, the pilot, who came under intense ground fire from the bandits, was able to evade them and sought refuge in nearby settlements awaiting sunset.
“Using the cover of darkness and his phone set for navigation, Flight Lieutenant Dairo was able to elude several bandits’ strongholds and maneuvered his way to a Nigerian Army Unit, where he was finally rescued.”
He said all necessary platforms were activated to rescue the pilot as soon as he notified his base that the aircraft has crashed.
The statement said “It is instructive to note that upon receipt of the news of the crash, the Chief of Air Staff, Air Marshal Oladayo Amao, had directed that all efforts must be emplaced to rescue the pilot.”
Gabkwet stated that the NAF Intelligence Surveillance Reconnaissance platforms and helicopter gunships provided close air support to NAF Special Forces and Nigerian Army troops who were able to locate the crash site and the pilot’s parachute, while also combing nearby locations for any sign of the pilot.
“It is gladdening to note that while in hiding, Flight Lieutenant Dairo confirmed that the presence of NAF aircraft within the vicinity of the crash site helped in scaring the bandits who were after him, thus enabling him to find refuge and escape to a safe location.”
He said there is no going back on President Muhammadu Buhari’s directive to the armed forces to neutralize bandits and their sponsors, adding that many bandits have been killed and their camps destroyed in line with the presidential order.
“It is important to also recall that only recently, the President, Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, President Muhammadu Buhari, GCFR, had directed the Armed Forces of Nigeria to do all it takes to flush out criminal elements in Katsina, Zamfara and Kaduna states.
“It is in fulfilment of this directive that the NAF, in conjunction with surface forces, has in the last 2 weeks mounted intensive day and night air interdiction operations against bandits and their hideouts, especially in these three states. Through these intensive air operations, hundreds of bandits have been neutralized and several of their hideouts destroyed.
“Despite the setback of yesterday’s crash, the NAF remains committed to fulfilling Mr President’s mandate as well as other constitutional roles assigned to it. The willingness, readiness, and tested ability of the NAF remain unshaken and unwavering as it continues to carry out its assigned roles.”
Within two months, the armed forces have witnessed two air crashes, the first being the one that claimed the life of Lieutenant-General Ibrahim Attahiru, former Chief of Army Staff, COAS on May 21.
