Boko Haram militant group has claimed it shot down the Alpha Jet aircraft (NAF475 fighter jet that went off the radar with two crew members on board on 31 March, 2021.
The Alpha light attack jet was on a mission to support troops fighting militants in northeastern Borno state when it lost radar contact on Wednesday, the Nigerian Air Force (NAF) said.
NAF intelligence report according to a statement issued by Air Commodore Edward Gabkwet, Director of Public Relations and Information stated that the aircraft with two crew onboard may have crashed.
“At this point, the NAF is not ruling out anything regarding the incident. It however remains hopeful that the crew would soon be found and rescued.”
The pilots are Flight Lieutenant John Abolarinwa and Flight Lieutenant Ebiakpo Chapele,” the statement revealed.
But in a militant video released on Friday, the militant said they shot down the Alpha jet.
The video, which could not be verified by AFP, was released on a Boko Haram social media channel showing a militant standing on what the group claims is the wreckage of the jet.
It shows the Nigerian flag and number NAF 475 on its fuselage.
“Nigeria air force jet fighter… was sent to Sambisa to fight the Mujahideen,” the militant said.
Nigeria’s military have been battling jihadists in the northeast of the country for more than a decade and have recently been fighting them in their stronghold in Sambisa forest in Borno state.
