Five crew members, including two pilots and three personnel of
the Nigerian Air Force, have been confirmed dead in the helicopter
crash which occurred in Damasak, Borno State, late on
Wednesday.
The deceased are identified as; Flight Lieutenant Perowei Jacob,
pilot in command; Flight Lieutenant Kaltho Kilyofas, co-pilot;
Sergeant Auwal Ibrahim, flight technician; Lance corporal Adamu
Nura, gunner, and Aircraftman Meshack Ishmael, gunner.
The NAF Director of Public Relations and Information, Air
Commodore Ibikunle Daramola, confirmed their deaths in a release on
Thursday, noting that their remains had been deposited in
Maiduguri, Borno State.
An attack helicopter of the NAF deployed in the fight against
the Boko Haram insurgents had been reported to have been lost in
combat.
The NAF had said the aircraft was lost around 10.30pm on
Wednesday, noting that the helicopter was providing close air
support to troops of 145 Battalion at Damasak in Northern Borno
State.
Northern Borno is a vulnerable area where the Islamic State of
West African Province fighters were attempting to overrun military
bases, with attacks on Metele, Buni Gari and Baga in the latest
attempted invasion on December 26 and 27, 2018.
The NAF’s spokesman, Daramola, had said, “A Nigerian Air Force
helicopter was lost in combat while providing close air support to
troops of 145 Battalion at Damasak in Northern Borno State. The
mission was part of the ongoing counter-insurgency operations in
the North-East.
“The incident occurred about 7:45pm on January 2. Details of the
cause of the crash are still scanty. As soon as the details of the
crash are known, they will be made available to the public.”
More details later
