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Nigerian Air Force releases names of officers in fighter jet crash
BY KAZIE UKO
The Nigerian Air Force (NAF) has named the two pilots who flew a fighter jet that was reported missing, earlier this week.
The pilots are Flight Lieutenant John Abolarinwa and Flight Lieutenant Ebiakpo Chapele.
In a statement issued Friday by the force’s Director of Public Relations and Information, Air Commodore Edward Gabkwet, the NAF said intelligence report indicated that the Alpha Jet aircraft (NAF475) which went off the radar on 31 March 2021, might have crashed.
READ: Boko Haram claims it shot down Nigeria’s war plane
Even though the terrorist group Boko Haram has claimed responsibility for shooting down the military aircraft, the air force insists the cause of the crash as well as the whereabouts of the two pilots remains unknown.
“Extensive search and rescue efforts are still ongoing by NAF surveillance aircraft as well as NAF Special Forces and Nigerian Army troops on ground.
“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,” Gabkwet said.