The Nigerian Air Force has revealed that a fighter jet on mission in Borno State, the epicenter of the Boko Haram insurgency, has gone missing.
NAF spokesman, Air Commodore Edward Gabkwet, who revealed this in a statement on Thursday, said the Alpha Jet lost radar contact on Wednesday evening during a routine mission.
The statement also revealed that the aircraft was supporting troops at one of the Theatres of Operation in the Northern part of the country.
Gabkwet said the whereabouts of the attack jet was unknown as of the time this report was filed, and that search and rescue efforts were ongoing.
“Efforts are currently ongoing to locate its whereabout. Details to follow,” he stated.
The NAF spokesman, however, did not disclose the number of officers onboard the jet.
The statement, titled, ‘Nigerian Air Force Alpha-Jet Loses Radar Contact’, 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 of the ongoing counterinsurgency operations in the North East. The loss of radar contact occurred at about 5:08 pm on 31 March 2021.
“Details of the whereabout of the aircraft or likely cause of contact loss are still sketchy but will be relayed to the general public as soon as they become clear. Meanwhile, search and rescue efforts are ongoing.”
