NAF | African News Today

<strong>NAF Rescues Seven Chinese After Six Months In Captivity</strong>

18Dec

By Mary UgwuanyiNo Comments

News, Nigeria, Security

NAF Rescues Seven Chinese After Six Months In Captivity

The Nigerian Air Force Special Forces under the 271 Detachment in Birnin Gwari, Kaduna State has freed seven Chinese workers abducted by suspected Bandits in Niger State. The Chinese expatriates were abducted in June while working at a mining site. This was contained in a statement issued by the Director of Public Relations and Information, Nigerian Air Force, Air Commodore Edward Gabkwet, on Saturday, noting that they were freed after a search-and-rescue mission by operatives. The statement read in part, “Special Forces under the 271 Nigerian Air Force Detachment, Birnin Gwari, Kaduna State, carried out a rescue operation in the early hours of 17 December 2022 leading to the rescue of seven Chinese expatriates earlier kidnapped and held hostage by terrorists. See Also: I...

NAF Explains Why Younger Pilots Were Allowed to Fly Army Chief

29May

By Chinedu IbeakanmaNo Comments

News, Nigeria, Security

NAF Explains Why Younger Pilots Were Allowed to Fly Army Chief

The Nigerian Air Force has dismissed claims questioning the capability of its pilots due to the recent NAF plane crashes, including last Friday’s crash which killed the Chief of Army Staff Ibrahim Attahiru and 10 other military officers. Last Friday, a NAF Beechcraft King Air 350i had crashed at the Kaduna civil airport, after the pilot diverted from the military airport due to bad weather. It was the second time that a NAF Beechcraft King Air 350i would crash this year and was also one of the worst military plane crashes in NAF history. Due to the severity of the crash, a cross-section of Nigerians questioned why senior and more experienced pilots, such as Squadron Leaders or Wing Commanders, were not being deployed to fly dignitaries such as the COAS and top generals. But t...

Air Force probes killing of 20 Soldiers in Aerial Attack

27Apr

By Chinedu IbeakanmaNo Comments

Boko Haram, News, Nigeria, Security, Terrorism

Air Force probes killing of 20 Soldiers in Aerial Attack

At least 20 soldiers have been feared killed in an aerial attack meant to neutralise Boko Haram/Islamic State West African Province (ISWAP). The Nigerian Air Force through its official Twitter account said it was investigating visuals and reports being circulated. It said: “The attention of the @NigAirForce has been drawn to reports alleging “How NAF killed over 20 Nigerian Army Personnel by Accident in Air Strike” at Mainok which is about 55km to Maiduguri. The NAF wishes to state that visuals and reports being circulated are currently being investigated and the general public will be duly updated on the alleged incident. “All inquiries should please be directed to the Office of the Director of Public Relations and Information, Headquarters Nigerian Air Force or forwarded to info...

Nigerian Air Force Reacts to Boko Haram’s Claim of Shooting Down Alpha Jet

3Apr

By Obiajulu Joel NwoluNo Comments

Armed Forces, Boko Haram, Nigeria, Security, Terrorism

Nigerian Air Force Reacts to Boko Haram’s Claim of Shooting Down Alpha Jet

The Nigerian Air Force has debunked claims by Boko Haram terrorists that it shot down the missing NAF 476 Alpha Jet, which remains uncounted for after it went off the radar in Borno State. Reacting to Boko Haram’ claim, the NAF on Saturday stated that the jet had an accident for several reasons, which the military was investigating and was not shot down as shown in the video. It said the video was doctored by the Boko Haram sect. The NAF Alpha Jet – a major asset in the onslaught against the insurgents in the North-East went missing on Wednesday evening with the whereabouts of the two pilots on board not known as of Saturday morning. On Friday, the Abubakar Shekau-led faction of Boko Haram, Jama'atu Ahlussunnah Lidda'awati Wal Jihad, released a video of it shooting down the mis...

Identities of Two Pilots in Missing NAF Fighter Jet Revealed

2Apr

By Obiajulu Joel NwoluNo Comments

Armed Forces, News, Nigeria, Safety, Security, Transportation

Identities of Two Pilots in Missing NAF Fighter Jet Revealed

The identities of the two pilots in the Nigerian Air Force Alpha Jet which went missing in the North-East on Thursday has been given as Flight Lieutenant John Abolarinwa and Flight Lieutenant Ebiakpo Chapele. The NAF in an update issued on Friday by the Director of Public Relations and Information, Air Commodore Edward Gabkwet said the location of the two pilots remains unknown. Air Marshal Oladayo Amao, the Chief of the Air Staff, on Thursday arrived in Maiduguri, Borno State to coordinate the ongoing search and rescue mission for the missing Alpha Jet which was lost during the Boko Haram combat mission in the North-East. Gabkwet said, “The air chief arrived in Maiduguri on Thursday morning, where he was briefed on ongoing search and rescue efforts in connection with the missing...

BREAKING: NAF fighter Jet loses Radar Contact in Borno, Whereabouts Unknown

1Apr

By Chinedu IbeakanmaNo Comments

Aviation, Breaking News, News, Nigeria, Press Statement, Security

BREAKING: NAF fighter Jet loses Radar Contact in Borno, Whereabouts Unknown

A Nigerian Air Force Alpha Jet involved in the anti-terror war against Boko Haram and Islamic State West Africa Province has lost radar contact in Borno State. NAF spokesman, Air Commodore Edward Gabkwet, in a statement on Thursday, said the incident happened on Wednesday evening. The statement was titled, ‘Nigerian Air Force Alpha-Jet Loses Radar Contact’. Gabkwet said though the whereabouts of the attack jet was unknown as of the time of filing this report, search and rescue efforts were ongoing. The NAF spokesman, however, did not disclose the number of officers onboard the yet-to-be-found jet. The statement read, “A Nigerian Air Force Alpha Jet has lost contact with radar in Borno State, while on interdiction mission in support of ground troops. The mission was part ...

Burial of NAF Officers Commences in Abuja

25Feb

By Chinedu IbeakanmaNo Comments

Life, News, Nigeria

Burial of NAF Officers Commences in Abuja

The burial ceremony of seven Airforce Officers who died on Sunday has commenced at the National Military Cemetery in Abuja. The officers were crew members of the ill-fated Beechcraft King Air 350 that crashed at Bassa village near the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport while on a reconnaissance mission to Niger State. The deceased were the Captain, Fl Lt. Haruna Gadzama; Fl. Lt. Henry Piyo (Co-Pilot); Flying Officer Micheal Okpara (Airborne Tactical Observation System Specialist); Warrant Officer Bassey Etim (ATOS Specialist); Fl. Sgt. Olasunkanmi Olawunmi (ATOS Specialist); Sgt. Ugochukwu Oluka (ATOS Specialist) and Aircraftman Adewale Johnson (Onboard Technician). Minister of Defence, Bashir Magashi (Rtd); Service Chiefs led by the Chief of Defence Staff, Major General Lucky I...

Abuja Air Crash Victims to be Buried on Thursday

24Feb

By Obiajulu Joel NwoluNo Comments

Armed Forces, Aviation, News, Nigeria, Safety, Transportation

Abuja Air Crash Victims to be Buried on Thursday

The Nigerian Air Force, NAF, has announced that the Seven officers who died in the air crash that took place in Abuja on Sunday will be buried at the National Cemetery, Lugbe, Airport Road, Abuja, on Thursday. This was disclosed by NAF on Wednesday in an invitation to journalists. The officers were victims of the fatal Beechcraft King Air B250i crash that occurred close to the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport, Abuja, after reporting engine failure. Among the deceased were the Captain, Fl. Lt. Haruna Gadzama; Fl. Lt. Henry Piyo (Co-Pilot); Flying Officer Micheal Okpara (Airborne Tactical Observation System Specialist); Warrant Officer Bassey Etim (ATOS Specialist); Fl. Sgt. Olasunkanmi Olawunmi (ATOS Specialist); Sgt. Ugochukwu Oluka (ATOS Specialist) and Aircraftman Adewale Jo...

NAF Plane Crash an Unfortunate National Disaster – Defence minister

23Feb

By Chinedu IbeakanmaNo Comments

News, Nigeria, Press Statement

NAF Plane Crash an Unfortunate National Disaster – Defence minister

Minister of Defence Maj.-Gen. Bashir Magashi has described the crash of the Nigerian Air Force King 350 plane as a national disaster. Gen. Magashi, in a statement by his Special Assistant on Media and Publicity, Mohammad Abdulkadri, yesterday in Abuja, said he was pained by the tragic accident, adding that the death was an unfortunate depletion of the national human capital asset. Gen. Magashi said the death of the officers and airmen in the line of duty would never be forgotten in the annals of the military’s efforts to end the nation’s insecurity. The minister commiserated with President Muhammadu Buhari, the nation and Nigerian Air Force in particular, as well as the families of those who paid the supreme price while serving the nation. The military has cleared the scene of ...