Olayemi Esan
The Nigerian Air Force (NAF) has again queried an online publication by THISDAY Newspaper of 5 April 2021 on the unfortunate crash involving the NAF Alpha Jet aircraft earlier reported missing.
The report, with the caption, “Wreckage of Missing NAF Alpha Jet 475 Found in Bama ,” claimed that the missing aircraft as well as the body of one of the missing pilots have been found.
NAF Spokesman, Air Commodore Edward Gabkwet said in a statement that the report, which quoted “an authoritative military source” was not only misleading but absolutely at variance with known ethos of the Journalism profession as the Medium never made effort to contact the NAF to verify the story before the said publication.
He said, from the day control lost radar contact with the aircraft on 31 March 2021, the NAF as a professional fighting force has been keeping members of the public abreast and updated on the missing aircraft and combined efforts of the NAF and Nigerian Army(NA) search and rescue team to locate the crashed aircraft.
He expressed displeasure that It is therefore sad and disheartening that such an unverified story could be published without any effort to confirm its veracity from the NAF.
"It is not in dispute that the media as the watchdog of the society have the right to continually inform the public. It should however be done within the acceptable dictates of the noble journalism profession" he added.
Gabkwet added that, while search and rescue efforts are being sustained until the wreckage of the aircraft is found, the NAF wishes to reassure the general public that it shall be informed of any update as regards the missing aircraft.
He advised members of the press to always be circumspect and exercise restraint in their reportage and endeavour to always clarify issues before going to press.
NAF Spokesman also urged Nigerians to disregard the unverified publication on the missing Alpha jet aircraft by the aforementioned paper.
