A Nigerian Air Force Alpha jet deployed to
operations in Mali Monday crashed in
Niger Republic, resulting in the death of
the two pilots, a statement by the Defence
Headquarters (DHQ) said.
The jet was said to have crashed at 1.05
pm, 60 kilometres west of Niamey, the
Nigerien capital.
The fighter jet was part of Nigeria’s air
fleet engaged with an African force
fighting hardline Islamists in Mali. AFP
reported that a DHQ source in Niamey
said it had suffered a “mechanical”
problem.
“A Nigerian Air Force Alpha jet aircraft on
a non-combatant mission crashed today
at Dargol village...The two pilots on board
the fighter jet died,” the Director of
Defence Information (DDI), Brig-Gen.
Chris Olukolade said in a statement.
The jet was one of four Nigerian aircraft
based in Niamey under the Africa-led
International Support Mission to Mali
(AFISMA), DHQ said, adding that the crash
was being investigated.
French and Chadian planes and US
drones have used the Niamey airport as a
base for their operations in Mali.
The 6,000-strong AFISMA has taken over
the lead from France in supporting Mali's
army in the battle against Al-Qaeda-linked
extremists.
A French-led operation launched in
January drove the Islamists from key cities
they had seized in northern Mali. But the
Islamists have turned to suicide bombings
and guerrilla attacks in reclaimed
territory.
But in continuation of its forces
deployment to Mali, the Nigerian Air Force
(NAF) Monday sent two Alpha jets to
strengthen the ECOWAS intervention force
in the West African country’s northern
flank.
The fighter jets, which were authorised
for combat operation by the Chief of Air
Staff, Air Marshal Alex Badeh, took off
from the domestic wing of Nnamdi
Azikiwe International Airport, Abuja.
The Air Component Commander, Air Vice
Marshal Tayo Oguntoyinbo, led the Alpha
jet team and flew to Niamey, where they
will be based during the Mali operations.
The team of fighter pilots was seen off by
the Chief of Training and Operations, NAF
headquarters, AVM Dickson Dillimono.
Speaking before their departure, the
Director of Information and Public
Relations, Air Commodore Yusuf Anas,
disclosed that the next deployment of
Nigerian Air Force Mi-35 Helicopters from
Nigeria to Mali would take place later
Tuesday.
Anas also revealed that the NAF C-130
aircraft have continued to airlift Nigerian
army personnel and equipment to Mali.
He said: “We went to drop our regiment
personnel from Port Harcourt, Rivers
State to Mali yesterday. This afternoon,
we are having our Alpha jets, which will
start their movement down to Mali.
“Yesterday the CAS (Bade) went to Port
Harcourt to administer the movement of
our own troops to Mali and today we are
witnessing the Alpha jets that will be
moving to Mali this afternoon.
“You will see the briefing of the team of
pilots, after that they will start their
aircraft and deploy straight to Mali via
Niamey, Niger Republic."
The two fighter jets, NAF 455 and NAF 452
Dassault-Brguft Donnier 78 were said to
have been very critical during the
deployment of ECOMOG forces led by
Nigeria in their push against former
President Charles Taylor and his forces
during the Liberian conflict.
Military sources said the jets also played a
similar role in the Sierra Leonean civil war
and ensured that peace was enforced at
the West African country.
In the meantime, the National Human
Rights Commission has visited DHQ in its
quest to unravel the truth behind the
Baga massacre in which between 36 and
200 people were said to have been killed
and over 2,000 houses burnt, in a clash
between the Multinational Joint Task
Force (MJTF) and the Boko Haram Islamic
sect.
Military sources disclosed yesterday that
the Chairman of NHRC, Mr. Chidi
Odinkalu visited DHQ Monday as part of
the commission’s investigation into the
Baga incident.
He met some military senior officers
behind closed doors during which fruitful
discussions were held, a military source
said.
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