The military has alerted the neighbouring countries to the missing NAF aircraft, even as there is anxiety over what could have been responsible for the plane’s disappearance.
According to military sources, the search-and-rescue team “is not ruling out extending their search beyond our border,” but that would be after combing every nook and cranny of the north-east.
“It may have to do with mechanical fault but what was responsible would be known when the investigation is complete,” the source said.
‘We won’t let terrorists take any town or village again’
The euphoria that greeted the massive victory recorded by Nigerian troops over Boko Haram was cut short by the news that one of the aircraft used to complement the troops on ground has been missing since Friday.
The troops, according to reports, successfully flushed out the terrorists from their hideouts and liberated some towns that had been declared part of “caliphate” by the terrorists in an operation that lasted several hours.
On Saturday, information came in that an Air Force Alfa jet on a regular mission in the campaign to eliminate the insurgents on Friday went missing with two crew members on board.
A statement issued by Defence Headquarters yesterday on Sunday morning and signed by the director, defence information, Major General Chris Olukolade, disclosed that search-and-rescue efforts were currently on to locate the whereabouts of the aircraft and crew.
“An Alpha jet (NAF 466) belonging to the Nigerian Air Force is missing around Adamawa State. The aircraft, with two pilots onboard, left Yola at about 10:45am on 12 September 2014 on a routine operational mission and was expected back by 12:00 noon. Since then all efforts to establish contact with the aircraft have not yielded any positive result. Meanwhile, search and rescue effort is ongoing to establish contact with the crew,” the military stated.
Meanwhile, the chief of defence staff, Air Chief Marshal Alex Sabundu Badeh, has directed the troops to never allow the terrorists to occupy any town or village again.
The directive was given, according to a top military officer who did not want his name in print, after the resounding victory over the outlawed group.
“What we witnessed of recent, where the Boko Haram terrorists were taking over some towns and villages, declaring them caliphates, will never occur again because of our plan to ensure there is no hiding place for those criminals. The CDS has given an order to that effect and that must be enforced to ensure security of the innocent people in the affected states,” the source said.
He regretted a situation where the Boko Haram fighters took over some towns and villages, hoisted their illegal flags and declared them parts of the illegal caliphates under them. “Let me tell you: never again would those criminals be allowed to take over any town or village and declare them caliphates under them. We are ready for them; we have vowed to ensure the life and property of every law-abiding person in those states are safe and secured.”
Speaking further, the serving general urged the media in the country to stop sourcing news from the foreign press who did not wish Nigeria well: “We are doing our best, we urge the media to be wary of where they get their stories. It is regrettable that most of them are banking on the foreign media which do not wish Nigeria well, for whatever reasons, to be telling them what is happening in the war against the terror group; and often they do not care to cross-check from us before they publish their stories. This country belongs to both the military and the civilians. Your stories could either discourage or encourage the troops fighting for the safety of our country and they too are human beings.”
The general also have words for the political class which he asked to “stop politicisation of the security challenges”.
“It is when Nigeria is safe and secured they can actualise their ambition. They cannot become president, governors, senators and members of the House if the country is at war. They should watch their utterances. Most of their utterances are discouraging our troops and this is dangerous to the corporate existence of Nigeria.”