MISSING AIR FORCE JET: LOCAL FISHERMAN DISCOVER PARTS IN RIVER
Some local fishermen have reportedly found parts of an aircraft suspected to be the missing Nigeria Air Force’s Alpha Jet (NAF 466) which disappeared on September 12, during routine operations in the northern part of Adamawa State in the River Benue.
According to the local fishermen, they discovered the aircraft at Kwa Ine Village, Demsa Local Government, Adamawa State about 50 Kilometers away from Yola, the state capital, Premium Times reports.
One of the fishermen in the area, Audu Vrati said: “At the time it crashed, the level of water in the river was high occasioned by the rainy season and the fishermen were able to see it now because the volume of water had receded.”
Mr. Vrati added that security operatives had already cordoned off the place and were preventing people from visiting the scene of the discovery.
When contacted, the spokesperson of the Defence headquarters, Chris Olukolade, a Major General, said he would make enquiry about the reports and revert.
The whereabouts of the missing Alpha jet which was used in the fight against insurgency in Northeastern part of the country was trailed by controversy.
The military had said that the jet went missing while on a mission in Adamawa State and since then all efforts to contact with the aircraft have been futile.
The Chief of Air Staff, Air Marshal Adesola Amosu, had also said they might know the location of the jet.
Some residents of Gombi LGA, Adamawa later said they saw the aircraft close to Gabun primary school before it may have crashed.
Meanwhile, the Boko Haram sect had claimed to have shot it down in a video in which they appeared to slaughter one of the pilots of the missing Alpha Jet.
According to the local fishermen, they discovered the aircraft at Kwa Ine Village, Demsa Local Government, Adamawa State about 50 Kilometers away from Yola, the state capital, Premium Times reports.
One of the fishermen in the area, Audu Vrati said: “At the time it crashed, the level of water in the river was high occasioned by the rainy season and the fishermen were able to see it now because the volume of water had receded.”
Mr. Vrati added that security operatives had already cordoned off the place and were preventing people from visiting the scene of the discovery.
When contacted, the spokesperson of the Defence headquarters, Chris Olukolade, a Major General, said he would make enquiry about the reports and revert.
The whereabouts of the missing Alpha jet which was used in the fight against insurgency in Northeastern part of the country was trailed by controversy.
The military had said that the jet went missing while on a mission in Adamawa State and since then all efforts to contact with the aircraft have been futile.
The Chief of Air Staff, Air Marshal Adesola Amosu, had also said they might know the location of the jet.
Some residents of Gombi LGA, Adamawa later said they saw the aircraft close to Gabun primary school before it may have crashed.
Meanwhile, the Boko Haram sect had claimed to have shot it down in a video in which they appeared to slaughter one of the pilots of the missing Alpha Jet.