Boko Haram insurgents have claimed that it shot down a fighter jet that went missing earlier this week, which the Air Force said might have crashed, according to a video released by the militant group on Friday.
The Alpha light attack jet was on a mission to support troops fighting militants in North Eastern Borno State, when it lost radar contact on Wednesday, the Nigerian Air Force said.
The Boko Haram video, which could not be verified by AFP, was released on a Boko Haram social media channel, showing a militant standing on what the group claims are the wreckage of the jet. It shows the Nigerian flag and number NAF 475 on its fuselage.
The militant said, “Nigeria Air Force jet fighter…was sent to Sambisa to fight the Mujahideen.”
Earlier on Friday, the Air Force said that the jet may have crashed, adding that the cause of the crash and the whereabouts of the two crew onboard were unknown.
It added in a statement, “Search and rescue efforts are still ongoing by NAF surveillance aircraft as well as NAF Special Forces and Nigerian Army troops on 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.”
