Eyewitness said the incident occurred at approximately 5:00 am, causing significant alarm among residents.

The helicopter said to be on a routine operational flight, experienced technical difficulties that led to the crash. Fortunately, the pilot managed to execute emergency protocols effectively, ensuring his survival.

Eyewitnesses at the scene reported that the pilot emerged from the wreckage largely unscathed.

Residents of Tami village quickly gathered at the crash site, offering assistance where possible and expressing relief that no lives were lost.

“We heard a loud noise and rushed to the scene. We were surprised and relieved to see the pilot alive,” said a local villager who witnessed the crash.

It was gathered that a team of military officers from the Nigerian Air Force swiftly arrived at the scene to secure the area and conduct an initial investigation.

A statement signed by Air Vice Marshal P.O Jemitola, Office of the Chief of Air Staff, implored interested persons, especially indigenes of Lagos State, to obtain the application form and other required details by visiting www.nafrecruitment.airforce.mil.ng which closes on the 30th of January, 2023.

While emphasizing that prospective candidates must diligently follow the instructions and supply all requested details, Jemitola enjoined Lagos State indigenes to take advantage of the recruitment opportunity before the closing date.

The meeting was said to have been conveyed by a Boko Haram terrorist commander identified as Aminu Duniya and attracted many members of the sect.

A source involved in the operation, who did not want his name in print because he was not directed to speak to journalists on the matter, revealed that the air strikes resulted in the death of many terrorists.

It was however not clear if Duniya was also killed in the operation.

The source said, “Over the weekend, NAF aircraft struck terrorists’ gathering at Kurebe in Shiroro Local Government Area of Niger State after intelligence revealed that terrorists had assembled for an important meeting hosted by Aminu Duniya, a Boko Haram terrorist commander.Aminu Duniya was said to have invited the terrorists to his enclave at Kurebe for the meeting which obviously attracted numerous terrorists who came in large number on their motorbikes.The air strike was successful and it resulted in the death of many terrorists, though it remains unclear if Aminu Duniya was also neutralised in the strike.Kurebe is a known terrorists’ haven as the local inhabitants of Kurebe have since vacated the villages in and around the area after the terrorists drove them away in 2021.”

This as it described the security challenges as dynamic and uncertain which requires continuous review of strategies.

The Director of Public Relations and Information, Air Commodore Edward Gabkwet, disclosed this while fielding questions from journalists during a press briefing to herlard activities for the Nigerian Air Force 58th anniversary.

He said, “The security challenges remain very fluid, dynamic, and very uncertain. So when you find yourself in this kind of situation, the most important thing is for you to continue to review your strategy and continue to create an environment or platform so that you can get more ideas.

We want to get things done, we want to provide a safe environment for Nigerians to go about their businesses even if it’s going to take us a year, two or 10 years, the focus is that we have to give Nigerians that peaceful environment to function.”

The Chairman Organising Committee for NAF 58th anniversary Air Commodore OlasunkanmiAbidoye said service in its 58 years of existence has grown into a formidable and respected force within the African continent and beyond.

He said the choice of this year’s theme is deliberately aimed at emphasizing renewed focus on joint military operations and effective synergy among the Services and other security agencies as well as consolidating on the gains of the employment of airpower, especially at this critical stage in our Nation’s history.

He said to mark this year’s Nigerian Air Force Day Celebration, a series of activities have been lined up to enlighten the citizens of Nigerian Air Force efforts in the fight against insurgency, terrorism, and other forms of criminality within the Country.

“Thus, there will be a series of pre-event activities taking place simultaneously at Nigerian Air Force units across the country. These activities include Juma’at Prayers and Interdenominational Church Service on Friday, 13 and Sunday, 15 May 2022 respectively. There will also be medical outreaches to host communities across the country.

“Furthermore, the Nigerian Air Force Officers’ Wives Association will also embark on humanitarian support activities for some selected communities in Kano State. All these are geared towards winning the consent and support as well as appreciating Nigerians for their support and goodwill over the years”.

He said the anniversary will also feature a Seminar which is scheduled to hold on 19 May 2022 as well as the Pulling out Ceremony of members of 35th and 36th Regular Course who recently retired from the Service.

The Air Officer Commanding, Ground Training Command, Air Vice Marshal Ibukunle Daramola, in a welcome address at the graduation ceremony of the Advanced Special Operations Course 1/2022 held on Friday at the Regiment Training Centre Annex, Special Operations Command of the Nigerian Air Force, Bauchi, said 285 personnel were nominated for the training.

He said, “Out of the 285 personnel nominated for the course, only 150 were found fit after a series of medical and physical screening and inaugurated to commence the course.

“At the end of the course, 145 personnel, comprising 3 officers and 142 airmen will be graduating today and they have been found worthy in character and learning to qualify as Advanced Special Forces Operatives, also known as Nigerian Air Force Panthers.”

Daramola said that the Special Forces operations are characterised by speed, precision, destabilising shock effects and perseverance of forces which require that these Special Forces operations are painstakingly selected to ensure the attainment of desired effects and outcomes.

“The kinds of effects that Special Forces operations are able to deliver are very critical at this material time, considering the fact that present threats to our national security are from violent non-state actors waging terrorist and insurgent campaigns against the Government of the Federal Republic of Nigeria. As such, these newly bred operatives would be employed as part of our offensive to ensure normalcy and calm are restored to restive communities within Nigeria.

“Ground Training Command remains resolute in ensuring qualitative training to enable us to have the best quality as well as the right numerical strength of personnel to prosecute the fight against terrorism and insurgency working in synergy with sister Services and other security agencies,” he assured.

According to him, in equipping them for the task ahead, some of the curricula of the Advanced Special Operations Course entailed counter improvised explosive devices training, air-to-ground integration, remotely piloted aerial systems training, close quarter battle drills, among others, emphasising that, “as expected, the course was intentionally made tough to ensure that our trainees can withstand the gruelling physical conditions of ground operations.”

In his speech, the Chief of Air Staff, Air Marshal Oladayo Amao, expressed optimism that the graduating students have imbibed the necessary skills, tactics, techniques and procedures required to conduct special operations pursuant to achieving the operational objectives of the Nigerian Air Force.

Amao who was represented by the Chief of Policy and Plan, Air Vice Marshal Charles Ohwo, said that in furtherance of his vision of enhancing and sustaining critical airpower capabilities required for joint force employment in pursuit of national security imperatives, the Nigerian Air Force has so far trained about 5,000 Regiment and 2,000 Special Operations Forces personnel.

Amao said that “the 150 graduating students of the Advanced Special Operations Course 1/2022 are however the first set of personnel to undergo in-Country Advanced Special Operations training, adding that the NAF’s ability to train this large number of personnel at a reasonable cost was possible because the training was conducted in Nigeria.”

Also speaking, the Commander, British Military Advisory Training Team, Col. Rory Shannon, described United Kingdom’s relationship with Nigeria and with its military as “deep-rooted and very strong.”

The Advanced Operatives Course has helped develop the foundation building on previous training and setting participants and students up for much more effective counter-violent extremists operations in North-East Nigeria, the Lake Chad Basin and other troubled areas.

He said, “At the Security and Defense Dialogue that was held between the United Kingdom and Nigeria’s Armed Forces and other Agencies in January of this year, our Chief of Defense Staff Spoke reiterating a desire to strengthen links between our militaries including in this particular area. The Nigeria-UK relations is hugely important. The deployment of what we’ve conveyed here will help save lives and defeat a common enemy. So I know that there are continuing close cooperation, we will continue to contribute to improving the security situation.”

Over 20 soldiers were allegedly slain when a NAF fighter jet responding to attacks on a military camp by Boko Haram insurgents bombed the camp based on a wrong coordinate.

Scores of insurgents had attacked the military camp in Mainok during which over seven soldiers, including an officer, lost their lives.

But TheCable reported that many soldiers were also killed by airstrikes carried out by the NAF jet.

Reacting to the report on Monday, the NAF spokesman, Edward Gabkwet, an air commodore, said the incident was under investigation.

In a tweet on the official NAF Twitter handle, he said, “The attention of the @NigAirForce has been drawn to reports alleging “How NAF killed over 20 Nigerian Army personnel by accident in an airstrike” at Mainok which is about 55km to Maiduguri.”

A statement released by Edward Gabkwet, the Director of Public Relations and Information at the Nigerian Air Force, states that the intelligence report gathered so far indicates the aircraft might have crashed. He gave the names of the pilots as Flight Lieutenant John Abolarinwa and Flight Lieutenant Ebiakpo Chapele

Read the statement “Intelligence report gathered by the Nigerian Air Force (NAF) indicates that the Alpha Jet aircraft (NAF475) that went off the radar with 2 crew members on board on 31 March 2021 might have crashed. The cause of the crash as well as the whereabouts of the 2 pilots remains unknown. The pilots are Flight Lieutenant John Abolarinwa and Flight Lieutenant Ebiakpo Chapele. Extensive search and rescue efforts are still ongoing by NAF surveillance aircraft as well as NAF Special Forces and Nigerian Army troops on the ground. At this point, the NAF is not ruling out anything regarding the incident. It however remains hopeful that the crew would soon be found and rescued”

Kafayat Sanni and Tolulope Arotile were decorated as the Nigerian Air Force’s first female combat pilot and first female helicopter pilot respectively after completing their training courses in the US and South Africa.

Speaking at the event in which the female military officers were decorated alongside 11 others on Tuesday October 15, the Chief of Air Staff, Sadique Abubakar said it was a milestone achievement in the 55-year history of the force.

He said “I am particularly happy because out of the 13 pilots to be winged are two female regular combatant officers. They are not only female officers but outstanding aviators. While one of the two pilots is the first female fighter pilot in the 55 years history of the NAF, the second one is the first female combat helicopter pilot. The first female fighter pilot trained at the United States Air Force following an excellent performance during her initial flying training course at 401 Flying Training School in Kaduna. While the second graduated from Starlite International Training Academy. They both performed excellently well during their training.”

Acting Director of Information DHQ, Colonel Onyema Nwachukwu, announced that the Chief of Defence Staff, General Abayomi Olonisakin, constituted the committee following the directive of President Buhari.

The committee, which would be headed by Rear Admiral I.T. Olaiya, has representatives of the Nigerian Army, Nigerian Navy, Nigerian Air Force, the Nigeria Police, Department of State Services and the Defence Intelligence Agency.