“We Shall Not Give In To  Propaganda By Terrorists’’ – NAF

By Adesina Soyooye

A mourning, but defiant Nigeria Airforce, NAF, says it will not give in to propaganda by terrorists. Such propaganda, NAF noted, is meant to distract it and demoralise the troops.

NAF which lost one of its helicopters, M1-171,in a crash, on Tuesday in Chukuba Village, Shiroro Local Government Area,  Niger State while on a casuality-evacuation operation, and suffered fatalities, was reacting to the gory video, allegedly of the crashed aircraft and the mangled bodies of soldiers making the rounds on Social Media.

The video, a handiwork of the insurgents, who claimed  to have shot down the aircraft, is disturbing.

But NAF, in a statement signed  its Director of Public Relations and Information, Air Commodore Edward Gabwet, said it will not give in to the propaganda, and would continue with its investigation to find out exactly the circumstances surrounding the crash of the aircraft and the fatalities. It noted that in a situation, such as we have in Nigeria, such incidents “of fatalities, mishaps and crashes are sometimes inevitable.”

The statement, also, warned those who are spreading the video by reposting it to have a rethink and consider the effect such postings would have on the morale of the troops fighting to protect and preserve their Fatherland.

Following, the full text of the statement.

“The attention of the Nigerian Air Force (NAF) 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 organizations involved in counterinsurgency and counterterrorism operations, incidences of fatalities, mishaps and crashes are sometimes inevitable.  For the NAF, the last 8 years has seen an increased level of air operations in efforts 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. 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 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.

“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. Infact, if anything, we are determined more than ever before, to take on the enemy frontally until they are brought to their knees.

“While calling on all Nigerians to continue to support the Armed Forces of Nigerian and other security agencies as we all jointly confront our common enemies, the NAF wishes to appreciate the President, Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces, Bola Ahmed Tinubu, GCFR, for his message of condolence and words encouragement. Our appreciation also goes to other well-meaning Nigerians for their support.”