The Nigerian Air Force has ignored claim by Boko Haram that its men were responsible for bringing down the NAF Alpha Jet aircraft (NAF475) that went off the radar with two crew members on board on March 31
The Air Force expressed confidence that it is not ruling out anything regarding the incident, saying that “it remains hopeful that the crew would soon be found and rescued.”
A statement by the NAF Director of Public Relations and Information, Air Commodore Edward Gabkwet, said that extensive search and rescue efforts are ongoing by NAF surveillance aircraft as well as NAF Special Forces and Nigerian Army troops on ground.
The statement today, April 2, gave the name of the two crew members, who disappeared with the fighter jet as Flight Lieutenant John Abolarinwa and Flight Lieutenant Ebiakpo Chapele.
The cause of the crash, as well as the whereabouts of the two pilots remain unknown.
Earlier today, Boko Haram fighters have displayed a video clip claiming the wreckages of what they said were the remains of the missing jet. They claimed that they shot it down.
The video, which could not be verified, was released on a Boko Haram social media channel showing a militant standing on what the group claimed are the wreckage of the jet. It showed the Nigerian flag and number NAF 475 on its fuselage.