Nigerian Airforce has debunked a video circulating on social media platforms allegedly depicting the wreckage of the crashed MI-171 helicopter with bodies of victims at Chukuba village in Shiroro Local Government Area of Niger State.
In a statement by Director of Public Relations and Information of the Force, Air Commodore Edward Gabkwet says while it is not in the character of NAF to respond to such claims, particularly one peddled by terrorists, concerns expressed by well-meaning Nigerians on the need to address the propaganda becomes imperative.
According to the statement like all military organisations involved in counter-insurgency and counter-terrorism operations, incidences of fatalities, mishaps and crashes are sometimes inevitable.
It notes that NAF in the last 8 years had increased its level of air operations aimed at checkmating the nefarious activities of criminal elements across the country.
It explains that while the NAF regrets such unfortunate incidents especially as they involve the loss of lives of personnel, the service will never shy away from unraveling the probable cause of the crash with a view to drawing lessons.
The statement called on those aiding and abetting the propaganda tendencies of terrorists either deliberately or inadvertently by spreading the videos of the alleged crash site with gory pictures of dead military personnel to rethink the consequences of their actions on the morale of troops, families of deceased personnel as well as on Nigeria's national security imperatives.
The statement assured that the determination of the Armed Forces to bring the current security situation in Niger State and indeed all troubled spots in the country remains unshaken, until enemies are brought to their knees.
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