A Nigerian Air Force (NAF) pilot has survived after bandits shot down the fighter jet on the boundaries of Zamfara and Kaduna State.
Reports on Sunday stated a NAF fighter jet battling bandits had crashed in Kaduna, with particulars sketchy.
However on Monday, the NAF issued a press release confirming the crash, saying that Flight Lieutenant Abayomi Dairo, the pilot of the fighter jet survived.
Director of Public Relations and Information, Air Commodore Edward Gabkwet, in a press release mentioned the pilot survived after he efficiently ejected from the plane.
According to him, on 18 July, 2021, at about 12.:45 pm, a Nigerian Air Force (NAF) Alpha Jet plane, coming back from a successful air interdiction mission between the boundaries of Zamfara and Kaduna State, came underneath intense enemy fire which led to its crash in Zamfara State.
“Fortunately, the gallant pilot of the plane, Flight Lieutenant Abayomi Dairo, efficiently ejected from the plane,’ the statement mentioned.
Dairo mentioned utilizing his survival instincts, the pilot, who came under intense ground fire from the bandits, was capable of evade them and sought refuge in close by settlements awaiting sunset.
In line with the assertion Dairo was capable of escaping from a number of bandits’ strongholds by utilizing the duvet of darkness and his telephone set for navigation and maneuverer his way to a Nigerian Army Unit, where he was finally rescued.
NAF said that it remained dedicated to fulfilling President Muhammadu Buhari’s mandate to it regardless of the crash. It mentioned the willingness, readiness, and examined skill of the NAF remained unshaken and unwavering because it continued to hold out its assigned roles.
