The Nigerian military has intensified the search for the pilots of the Alpha jet that went missing September 12 during a “routine operational mission” against insurgents in the North-east state of Adamawa.
Confusion still reigns over the fate of the two Nigerian Air Force (NAF) personnel who flew the missing aircraft.
THISDAY findings revealed that while one of the pilots may have actually died, with the condition of the second still unclear, the military has yet to make an official statement on the fate of pilots.
According to an intelligence source, there are grains of truth in the information released by a new group on the alleged dead pilot but it would amount to a strategic error on the part of the military to jump to conclusion by crediting the death to Boko Haram terrorists.
“You know that the military’s mood is on the upswing, with many victories against the terrorists resulting in most of their commanders, including that Shekau impostor (Mohammed Bashir) being killed. So it would have been a strategic error to make such announcement that could negatively impact our operations,” the source explained.
However, the Director of Public Relations and Information (DoPRI), NAF Headquarters, Commodore Dele
Alonge, while responding to THISDAY on the matter, insisted that the position of the military remains that the two pilots are still missing with the search for them on-going.
Alonge also debunked the rumour that the military had stopped searching for the missing pilots and the report that they denied one of their own, saying that they are yet to conclude on the matter.
He said: “We have not stopped searching; instead, we have intensified the search. Just like I told you we have intensified our search as we can’t afford to abandon our missing officers.
“Apart from the equipment, the personnel are our own. What do we tell the families? Nothing has been located yet and that is why our official position is that the search continues.”
A group under the auspices of the Nigerian Army Support Group had, last Saturday, announced the death of one of the two NAF pilots that flew the jet that went missing while on an operation weeks ago.
The group had through their Facebook account, named one of the missing pilots said to have been killed Wing Commander Chimda Hedima and described him as “a true Nigerian hero.”
However, another military source has cast doubt on the intention of the group as well as that of the foreign partners in the counter-terrorism and counter-insurgency efforts.
The source wondered why the United States and other allies with all their sophisticated military gadgets and satellite imagery facilities had not helped to locate the whereabouts of the aircraft.
“When you look at the stories, its one person they have been talking about,” the source observed. “What of the other pilot? Americans, who many are asking and expecting to use their satellite imagery to help us, are not actually here to help. What help have they rendered; during the day all of them came, be it France, US, UK and all the superpowers. What assistance have they given us?”
Also speaking to THISDAY from the US on the issue, a security analyst, Max Gbanite, warned that the United States, which had invested a lot in Nigerian democracy, has more to lose by not cooperating with Nigeria and not selling “the weapons required to fight terrorism and insurgency”.
According to Gbanite, America’s action stands to give credence to Nigeria’s suspicion, especially in the North-East, that US may not want the conflict to end.
He said the US reinforces this belief by firstly allegedly denying the country information gathered from International Satellite Imagery Intelligence (ISII).
Secondly, he said, “They were now denying us the much-needed attack helicopter gunships, which gives credence to some people’s claim that they are probably arming Boko Haram.”
Thirdly, he added, the same international community led by the US, France and their Western allies that claims to have been flying drones in the North East corridor have since failed to detect or inform of any single night attacks by Boko Haram on Nigerian citizens and villages but they were able to see and expose Russian troops going into Ukraine.
“This smacks of double standards, serious double standards,” he said.“The US is building international coalition against the Islamic State in Iraq and Levant (ISIL) but has refused to give Nigeria the right technology to fight Boko Haram. This is not good.”
In the same vein, a retired director in the state intelligence service, raised alarm over deliberate efforts by the Western powers to break up the country in line with alleged 2015 doomsday prediction.
The Intelligence personnel, in agreement with Gbanite, suggested as a way forward, that Nigeria should review its defence policy and relationship with the West in line with the current international political realities.
“This is the time for Nigeria to wake up and review its defence policy for the nation and its defence relationship with Western nations. Then, look at the Eastern bloc nations like China, Russia and even Belarus to see, which one is better for Nigeria. The late Gen. Sani Abacha did it and it worked,” the source remarked.
Also responding to THISDAY, the Director of Defence Information (DDI), Maj-Gen. Chris Olukolade, said that Nigeria military continues to enjoy good working relations with its allies and partners in the counter-terrorism war.
Olukolade assured that “the Nigerian military had continued to demonstrate willingness to cooperate and maximise the benefits from the existing relationship between our country and the US.”
Accordingly, he added, the armed forces have continued to align their activities and operations in recognition of existing partnership.