The Nigerian Air Force (NAF) clarified that an Unmanned Aerial Vehicle (UAV) experienced a mishap shortly after takeoff for a mission near Rumji Village, approximately 15 kilometers from its base in Kaduna. This clarification counters earlier reports that a NAF helicopter had crashed in the early hours of Monday, July 1, 2024.
NAF Director of Public Relations and Information, Air Vice Marshal Edward Gabkwet, confirmed the incident, emphasizing that there were no casualties. He stated that a preliminary investigation has begun to determine the cause of the drone crash.
“Since it is an unmanned vehicle, there were no casualties on board or on the ground,” Gabkwet said. “Preliminary investigation has since commenced to ascertain what may have caused the mishap.”
Gabkwet reassured Nigerians that this “minor setback will not, in any way, impede ongoing operations” of the Air Force. He also criticized the rush to publish unverified news, urging media outlets to seek confirmation from authorized military sources before releasing such reports.
“While the news of the crash filtered in, some outlets misinformed Nigerians that a helicopter had crashed without the decency to clarify from the NAF. This attitude should be discouraged as it negates the principle of developmental journalism, balanced reporting, and fairness. Members of the media are again advised to always seek clarification from authorized military outlets before rushing to ‘break’ the news,” he stated.
