Nigerian Air Force Explained

Unit Name:Nigerian Air Force
Country: Nigeria
Allegiance:Federal Republic of Nigeria
Type:Air force
Role:Aerial warfare
Size:approximately 147 aircraft, and 18,000 active personnel[1]
Command Structure:Nigerian Armed Forces
Garrison:Abuja, F.C.T.[2]
Garrison Label:Headquarters
Motto:"Willing ... Able ... Ready"
Colours:Green and White
Anniversaries:Armed Forces Remembrance Day (15 January)
Equipment:Fighter jets, reconnaissance aircraft, logistics aircraft, attack helicopters, attack drones, surveillance drones, SAM (Air Defense System)
Battles:
Commander1:President Bola Tinubu
Commander1 Label:Commander-in-Chief
Commander2:General Christopher Musa
Commander2 Label:Chief of Defence Staff
Commander3:Air Marshal Hassan Abubakar
Commander3 Label:Chief of the Air Staff
Identification Symbol Label:Roundel
Identification Symbol 2 Label:Fin flash
Identification Symbol 3 Label:Flag
Aircraft Fighter:JF-17, Chengdu J-7, Aermacchi M-346, Alpha Jet, Aero L-39, A-29 Super Tucano
Aircraft Helicopter:Mil Mi-24, Bell 412, Mil Mi-17, AW101, AW139, AW109, AS332 Super Puma, EC135
Aircraft Helicopter Attack:T129 Atak, Mil Mi-35
Aircraft Trainer:Alpha Jet, MB 339A, Aero L-39
Aircraft Transport:Aeritalia G.222, Dassault Falcon 7X, Gulfstream G550, 737 BBJ, Lockheed Hercules C130

The Nigerian Air Force (NAF) is the air branch of the Nigerian Armed Forces. It is the youngest branch of the Nigerian Armed Forces,established 4 years after the nation became independent. As at 2021, the air force is one of the largest in Africa, consisting of over 18,000 personnel.[3] Some of its popular aircraft include the Chengdu F-7s, Dassault-Dornier Alpha Jets, JF-17 Thunder Block II, T129 Atak, Agusta Westland 109, Eurocopter EC135 and Embraer EMB 314 Super Tucano aircraft.

History

Although an Air Force was originally proposed in 1958, many lawmakers preferred to rely on the United Kingdom for air defense. But during peacekeeping operations in Congo and Tanganyika, the Nigerian Army had no air transport of its own, and so in 1962, the government began to recruit cadets for pilot training in various foreign countries, with the first ten being taught by the Egyptian Air Force.[4]

1960s

The Nigerian Air Force was formally established on 18 April 1964 with the passage of the Air Force Act 1964. The Act stated that the "Nigerian Air Force shall be charged with the defense of the Federal Republic by air, and to give effect thereto, the personnel shall be trained in such duties as in the air as well as on the ground." The NAF was formed with technical assistance from then West Germany (now Federal Republic of Germany). The air force started life as a transport unit with the first air crew trained with the Ethiopian Air Force, the second set of undergo training in February 1963 with Royal Canadian Air Force while some were sent to the Indian Air Force.[5]

The head of the German Air Force Assistance Group (GAFAG) was Colonel Gerhard Kahtz, and he became the first commander of the NAF. The nucleus of the NAF was thus established with the formation of the Nigerian Air Force headquarters at the Ministry of Defense.

The NAF did not acquire combat capability until several Mikoyan-Gurevich MiG-17 aircraft were presented by the Soviet Union in support of Nigeria's war effort during the Nigerian Civil War. On 13 August 1967, following several damaging attacks by Biafran aircraft, the USSR started delivering the first MiG-17s from Egypt to Kano IAP, simultaneously sending a large shipment aboard a Polish merchant ship. Initially two MiG-15UTI (NAF601 and NAF 602), and eight MiG-17 (NAF603 to NAF610) were supplied to Nigeria. Later six Il-28 bombers, initially flown upon deployment by Egyptian and Czech pilots, were delivered from Egypt and stationed at Calabar and Port Harcourt.

1970s

In July 1971, the International Institute for Strategic Studies estimated that NAF had 7,000 personnel and 32 combat aircraft: six Ilyushin Il-28 medium bombers, eight MiG-17, eight Aero L-29 Delfín jet trainers, and 10 P-149D trainers. Other aircraft included six C-47, 20 Do-27/28, and eight Westland Whirlwind and Alouette II helicopters.

During the 1970s, Nigeria bought Lockheed C-130 Hercules from the United States. Six were acquired at a total cost of $45 million. 25 Mikoyan-Gurevich MiG-21MFs and six MiG-21UM were delivered in 1975 upon the advent of the Murtala-Obasanjo administration that replaced the regime of General Yakubu Gowon. Most of these aircraft were deployed, making the NAF one of the most formidable air forces in Africa during this period.

Jimi Peters wrote: '..the 1975-1980 NAF development plan restructured NAF formations' into group (air force) level units that reported to air force headquarters. That structure, he went on, was found too cumbersome, and thus two intermediate commands (military formations) were formed in 1978: NAF Tactical Air Command and NAF Training Command.

1980s

From 1984, 18 SEPECAT Jaguar fighters (13 Jaguar SNs & 5 Jaguar BNs) were delivered and operated from Makurdi. They retired in 1991. Nigeria purchased 24 Aero L-39 Albatros armed jet trainers in 1986-87, having retired its fleet of L-29 that were donated to the Republic of Ghana Air Force at the inception of the West African Monitoring Group (ECOMOG) operations in Liberia. A subsequent attempt to expand the fleet by acquiring 27 more in 1991 was not executed.

2000s

In 2005, under the administration of President Olusegun Obasanjo, the Nigerian Parliament appropriated US$251 million to purchase 15 Chengdu F-7 fighter aircraft from China. The deal included 12 F-7NI (NI-Nigeria) single-seat fighter variant, and 3 FT-7NI dual-seat trainer aircraft. The $251 million package included $220 million for 15 aircraft, plus $32 million for armaments: live PL-9C AAM, training PL-9 rounds, unguided rockets, and 250/500  kg bombs. The pioneer NAF pilots on the aircraft trained in China in 2008, while delivery of the aircraft began in 2009. (Nigeria had previously considered a $160 million deal to refurbish its fleet of MiG-21s by Aerostar/Elbit Systems, IAI, and RSK MiG). However, it was considered more cost-effective to opt for acquiring the F-7s which were brand new. Nigeria also caused a modification of its variant of the F7, including installing some western equipment and avionics and hence its official designation as "F7-Ni" to reflect that its variant differs in some respects from a typical Chinese F-7. With this acquisition, her fleet of MiG 21s was subsequently grounded. The Federal Government of Nigeria under the same dispensation acquired some ATR Maritime Patrol aircraft for NAF, built by EADS and Finmeccania / Alenia Aeronautica, boosting the capacity of the service to carry out extensive Intelligence, Surveillance and Reconnaissance (ISR) missions on land and far into the sea.

From September 2009, Nigeria began refurbishing some of its C-130 aircraft beginning with the NAF 917 which it brought back to life with the support of U.S. Air Forces Africa and 118th Airlift Wing. The NAF has subsequently further improved its domestic capacity with the increase in the serviceability of a good number of its transport aircraft.

2010s

The NAF designed and built its first indigenous UAV, the "Gulma," which was unveiled by former president Goodluck Jonathan in Kaduna, who said that the "Gulma" would be useful in aerial imaging/mapping, telecommunications, and weather monitoring. According to him, the UAV was rapidly becoming an important tool in news coverage, environmental monitoring, and oil and gas exploration.[6]

On 24 March 2011, the new Air Officer Commanding of NAF Mobility Command, Air Vice Marshal John Aprekuma, explained the rationale behind the establishment of the headquarters of the newly established Air Force Mobility Command in Yenagoa, Bayelsa State as being part of the Federal Government's strategy to protect its socio-economic interest in the Niger Delta, affirming that the presence of the command's headquarters would bring about security and calm to the people of the State.

On 9 December 2011, the Nigerian Air Force commissioned its first female pilot, Blessing Liman, following a directive to the NAF hierarchy by former President Goodluck Jonathan, for the service to start offering flying opportunities to qualified Nigerian female citizens, especially since women had long been flying civil aviation aircraft in the country but did not get a chance to fly in the military.[7]

In March 2014, the Nigerian Government approached Pakistan for the purchase of joint Chinese-Pakistani made CAC/PAC JF-17 "Thunder" multi-role fighter aircraft. In December 2015, the Government of President Muhammadu Buhari presented a budget to the National Assembly that included N5bn for three JF-17 aircraft. On 28 March 2018, 'The Diplomat' reported Pakistan as confirming the sale of three JF-17s to Nigeria. In March 2020, NAF Chief of Air Staff announced the delivery schedule of three JF-17 Thunder to be affected in November 2020. It is understood that the Buhari administration will expand the fleet of JF-17 fighter aircraft upon an expression of satisfaction by NAF Generals, with the performance of the initial batch procured.

In December 2017, NAF formally announced that the United States of America had agreed to sell the A-29 Super Tucano attack aircraft to Nigeria after the deal had previously stalled. The success of this transaction is credited to the persistent negotiation and diplomatic skills of the Buhari administration.

In November 2018, Sierra Nevada was officially awarded the contract for the 12 Super Tucano aircraft for the NAF, with an estimated completion date by 2024.

On 2 January 2019, one Mi-35M attack helicopter from the Nigerian Air Force helicopter squadron crashed in Damasak, Borno State while providing close-air support for troops of the 145 Battalion combating Boko Haram insurgents, killing all onboard. The Mi-35 in the fleet of the NAF is the top-of-the-range model acquired in the life of the administration of President Muhammadu Buhari that had also ordered several Mi-171 and Agusta 109 helicopters from both Mil Moscow Helicopters of Russia and Italy's Leonardo Aerospace for the service.

On 15 October 2019, the NAF winged its first female combat fighter jet pilot, Flight Lieutenant Kafayat Sanni, and its first female combat helicopter pilot Lieutenant Tolulope Arotile. They were amongst thirteen other pilots also winged on the same day.[8] [9]

In April 2020, Embraer reported the completion of the first set of Super Tucanos out of the 12 on order, with an expected full delivery in 2021.

Structure

The Air Force includes a service headquarters, 6 principal staff branches, 4 direct reporting units, and 4 operational commands.[10]

The Chief of the Air Staff (CAS) is the principal or lead adviser to the President and also the Minister of Defense and the Chief of Defense Staff, on air-related defense matters. The Nigerian Air Force headquarters is responsible for establishing long and short-term mission objectives and articulating policies, carrying out plans and procedures for the attainment of peace and stability. Also, HQ Nigerian Air Force liaises with the Nigerian Army and Nigerian Navy on joint operational policies and plans. The headquarters Nigerian Air Force consists of the office of the Chief of the Air Staff and 8 staff or branches namely; Policy and Plans Branch, Operations Branch, Air Engineering Branch, Logistics Branch, Administration Branch, Accounts and Budget Branch, Inspections Branch and Air Secretary Branch respectively. Each of these branches is headed by an Air Vice Marshal as branch chief.

Nigerian Air Force Tactical Air Command (TAC), with its headquarters situated at Makurdi, is responsible for interpreting, implementing and controlling Nigerian Air Force operational plans.

Nigerian Air Force Mobility Command, headquartered at Yenagoa, was established in 2011. It has five other commands located in Lagos, Ilorin, Calabar, Warri and Abuja. The Mobility Command performs tactical and strategic airlift in support of government and military operations.

Presidential Air Fleet

The Nigerian Air Force also maintains and is the primary custodian of the air fleet in which the president flies on, as well as other state and foreign dignitaries. The fleet accounts for 10 various fixed wings and rotary aircraft.[12] According to the government, there are 10 aircraft in the fleet. They include two each of AgustaWestland AW189, and Falcon 7X, as well as one each of Bombardier Challenger 605, Boeing Business Jet, Falcon 900, Hawker 4000, Gulfstream G500, and Gulfstream G550. The fleet is situated at the Presidential Wing of the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport.

Detachments, Wings, and Forward Operational Bases

Nigerian Air Force Training Command, located at Old Kaduna Airport, is chiefly responsible for the training of recruits, ground support crew, and technicians.[13] [14]

Nigerian Air Force Logistics Command, headquartered at Ikeja, Lagos, is tasked to acquire, maintain and sustain equipment in a state of operational readiness and at a minimum cost consistent with Nigerian Air Force mission requirements.

Special Operations

Nigerian Air Force Special Operations Command (SOC), headquartered at Bauchi, Bauchi State.[15]

Bases

Aircraft

Current inventory

AircraftOriginTypeVariantIn serviceNotes
Combat Aircraft
Alpha JetFranceattack A/E12[16]
Chengdu J-7ChinafighterF-711
Embraer EMB 314BrazilattackA-29B12
JF-17 ThunderChinamultiroleA/Block 2E3
Maritime Patrol
ATR 42Francemaritime patrolMPA1
Reconnaissance
Beechcraft Super King AirUnited StatesISR3502
Cessna CitationJetUnited StatesISR / maritime patrolCJ31
Diamond DA42AustriaISRDA42 MPP1
Diamond DA62AustriaISRDA62 MPP4
Transport
Dornier Do 28GermanyutilityDornier 12811
Dornier 228Germanyutility / transport7
Lockheed C-130United StatestransportC-130H2
Helicopter
AgustaWestland AW109ItalyutilityA109E/LUH15
AgustaWestland AW139ItalyVIP1
Bell AH-1Z ViperUnited Statesattack12 on order
Bell 412United Statesutility412EP2
Eurocopter AS332Franceutility5
Eurocopter EC135FranceutilityH1353
Mil Mi-17RussiatransportMi-1716
Mil Mi-24RussiaattackMi-351518 on order
Mil Mi-34Russiatrainer1
TAI T129Turkeyattack6 on order
Trainer
Aero L-39Czechslovakiajet trainer10
Aermacchi MB-339Italyjet trainerMB-339AN6
PAC MFI-17 MushshakPakistanbasic trainerMFI-39510
UAV
CAIG Wing Loong IIChinaUCAV5[17] 3 on order[18]
TsaigumiNigeriaUAV6 on order[19]

UAV program

Surveillance Unmanned Aerial Vehicles!Numbers!Model!Origin!In service since
Aerostar Tactical UAS Israel2006, believed to have been decommissioned due to a lack of spare parts
3PD-1UkraineBelieved to have entered service in late 2020[20]
Tekever AR3 Portugal[21] In service with the Nigerian Navy since 2021
Aerosonde Mk4USA/AustraliaMade in Australia, delivered from the US, with the Nigerian Army since 2022
ALTI TransitionSouth AfricaIn service with the Nigerian Police since 2022[22]
at least 3Elistair Orion 2FranceIn service with the Nigerian Police for border protection since 2022[23]
GulmaNigeria2013, not meant to enter active service
TsaigumiNigeria2018, designed in collaboration with the Portuguese company UAVision. Not destined to enter active service till 2021.
Unmanned Combat Aerial Vehicles!Numbers!Model!Origin!In service since
CASC Rainbow CH-3AChina2014
CASC Rainbow CH-4AChinasince late 2021
2 (according to Chinese state sources)[24] China2021
United Arab Emiratesin service at least up from 2021
6[25] Turkey2022
minimum 10[26] Songar VTOLTurkey2022
IchokuNigeriareportedly in development since 2017. Not yet seen.

Incidents and accidents

On 26 September 1992, a NAF Lockheed C-130H Hercules serial number 911 crashed three minutes after take-off from Lagos, Nigeria, when three engines failed, possibly due to high take-off weight. All 158 people on board were killed, including eight foreign nationals.

On 25 January 2015, a photo appeared online at Beegeagle's Blog, appearing to show a CASC Rainbow CH-3 UCAV which crashed upside down near Dumge village in the Mafa District of Borno State. The two anti-tank missiles on the CH-3's wings appear to be intact. Borno is the area where much of the Boko Haram violence, including the massacre of 2,000 civilians, occurred in 2015. Currently, the Nigerian military is fighting to hold onto the city of Maiduguri against a Boko Haram onslaught, so it appears likely that the CH-3 in question was flying reconnaissance and fire support missions for the military when it crashed. The use of armed drones by Nigerian forces in combat makes Nigeria one of the first five countries to do that in combat history.

On 28 September 2018, a fatal air collision involving two F-7 aircraft occurred during a formation flying exercise involving an Aeritalia G.222 and three Alpha Jets as they practiced flight maneuvers for the 58th Independence Day celebrations in the capital, Abuja. As the F-7 jets turned to the formation flying, their wings clipped each other's side.[27] Both planes lost stability due to the collision and it resulted to the spiral loss of both jets and they both crashed at the Katampe district of Abuja. Three pilots ejected out of the crippled jets. The two pilots who were on the F-7Ni ejected and landed with minor G-force injuries, and the third pilot on the F-7 ejected and sustained head injuries due to the problems from the parachute as it deployed. The pilot later died thereafter, on the way to the hospital as emergency services rushed to the scene of the crash. The Nigerian Air Force was notified and responded with search and rescue for all three pilots, while witnesses helped in evacuating the pilots from their stricken planes.[28] [29]

On 31 March 2021, an Alpha Jet crashed near Borno State in North Eastern Nigeria, after it was conducting an air interdiction on Boko Haram. At about 5:08 p.m., the jet was reported to have stopped pinging on radar and presumed to have crashed. The wreckage was reported missing and found nineteen months later by Nigerian Army troops.[30] [31]

On 18 July 2021, while returning from an air interdiction mission in the North Western region of Nigeria along the Kaduna-Zamfara state boundaries, an Alpha Jet piloted by Flight Lieutenant Abayomi Dairo was shot down by "armed bandits" in Zamfara State. Flight Lieutenant Dairo successfully ejected from the plane, evaded capture and made his way to a Nigerian Armed Forces base in the area with minor injuries. He was given a "hero's return" by the Chief of Defense Staff and other top officers, Armed Forces of Nigeria, General Lucky Irabor, alongside other military top brass.[32] [33]

On 14 July 2023, while on a routine training exercise in Markudi, Benue State, a Chengdu FT-7 crashed at 4:15 pm WAT local time. Both pilots ejected out of the jet and were rescued by the Air Force personnel assigned to search and rescue.[34]

On 14 August 2023, a NAF MI-171 Helicopter, which was involved in on "casualty evacuation mission", encountered a crash at approximately 1:00 pm. The helicopter's initial point of departure was Zungeru Primary School, with its destination set for Kaduna state. However, it was later determined that the helicopter had suffered a crash in the proximity of Chukuba Village, situated within the administrative jurisdiction of the Shiroro Local Government Area in Niger State. The number of passengers or crew members could not be ascertained.[35] [36] Meanwhile, Islamic Jihadists claimed responsibility for the incident.[37]

One fatal "error" happened in December 2023, when the Nigerian forces accidentally hit a village with an armed UAV in northwestern Nigeria killing 85 civilians[38] [39] celebrating a Muslim festival. The army said they thought the people were rebels.[40]

Rank structure

Commissioned officer ranks

The rank insignia of commissioned officers.

Other ranks

The rank insignia of non-commissioned officers and enlisted personnel.

Bibliography

External links

Notes and References

  1. The Military Balance 2020, p.494
  2. Web site: NAF Contact Us . Airforce.mil.ng . 26 August 2014 . https://web.archive.org/web/20140625094020/http://airforce.mil.ng/contact . 25 June 2014 . live .
  3. IISS Military Balance 2009, p.314
  4. Web site: Nigerian Air Force . 7 July 2024 . Nigerian Air FOrce . en.
  5. Web site: Celebrating 57 Years of Formidable Aerial Warfare - THISDAYLIVE . www.thisdaylive.com . This Day Live . 26 September 2023 . en.
  6. Web site: Jonathan launches first Nigerian – built drone . www.premiumtimesng.com . 26 September 2023.
  7. Web site: Meet NAF's first female pilot – Even as a child I've always wanted to fly' – Daily Trust . 26 September 2023 . 10 June 2020. https://web.archive.org/web/20200610093539/https://www.dailytrust.com.ng/meet-nafs-first-female-pilot-even-as-a-child-ive-always-wanted-to-fly.html . 10 June 2020 .
  8. Web site: Aluko . Olaleye . Why I decided to become Nigeria's first female fighter jet pilot — Sanni . Punch Newspapers . 26 September 2023 . 19 October 2019.
  9. Web site: NAF wings first female combat pilot officer, 5 others - Daily Trust . dailytrust.com . 29 September 2020 . 26 September 2023.
  10. Web site: About NAF | Structure . airforce.mil.ng . 26 August 2014 . dead . https://web.archive.org/web/20140625055910/http://airforce.mil.ng/structure . 25 June 2014 .
  11. Web site: Ikenwa . Chizoba . 13 March 2020 . Command Structure of the Nigerian Air Force . 14 November 2022 . Nigerian Infopedia . en-US . 7 December 2022 . https://web.archive.org/web/20221207201307/https://nigerianinfopedia.com.ng/command-structure-of-the-nigerian-air-force/ . dead .
  12. Web site: Nweze . Emeka . List Of All The Aircraft In The Presidential Fleet . Lists . 14 May 2020 . Emeka Nweze . 20 August 2023 . News.
  13. Web site: Home Appliances World. https://web.archive.org/web/20130604053555/http://www.nigerianairforce.net/nafstructure/TC.aspx . dead . 4 June 2013. www.suncatchersproject.org.
  14. Web site: Home Appliances World. https://web.archive.org/web/20131029202143/http://www.nigerianairforce.net/AirOfficers/AirOfficers_AOC_TC.aspx . dead . 29 October 2013. www.suncatchersproject.org.
  15. Web site: 21 January 2016. Nigerian Air Force creates Special Forces command to fight Boko Haram, others . Premium Times Nigeria. 31 May 2021. en-GB.
  16. Web site: 2024 . World Air Forces 2024 . registration . live . https://web.archive.org/web/20230217131155/https://www.flightglobal.com/download?ac=83735 . 17 February 2023 . 15 January 2024 . Flightglobal Insight .
  17. Web site: Nigerian Air Force discreetly receives 5 Chinese-made Wing Loong II drones . 19 October 2023 . airrecognition.com.
  18. Web site: Lenkov . Alexey . 7 October 2023 . Nigeria got all four DA62 MPPs versatile tracking mission aircraft . 21 October 2023 . BulgarianMilitary.com.
  19. News: Binnie . Jeremy . 16 February 2018 . Nigerian Air Force to develop armed UAV . Jane's Information Group.
  20. Web site: Martin . Guy . 13 October 2020 . Additional UAVs being acquired for the Nigerian Air Force . 5 December 2023 . defenceWeb . en-ZA.
  21. Web site: AR3 – TEKEVER . 26 April 2024 . en-US.
  22. Web site: ADF . 17 July 2023 . Nigeria Using Tethered Drones for Security . 5 December 2023 . Africa Defense Forum . en-US.
  23. https://www.unmannedsystemstechnology.com/2022/11/nigerian-police-forces-use-tethered-uavs-for-border-protection/ {{Bare URL inline|date=August 2024}}
  24. Web site: Olander . Eric . 12 November 2020 . New Chinese-Made Wing Loong II Attack Drones Arrive in Nigeria . 5 December 2023 . The China-Global South Project . en-US.
  25. Web site: 26 September 2022 . Nigeria acquiring Bayraktar TB2 drone and not Akinci . 5 December 2023 . Military Africa . en-US.
  26. Web site: 10 May 2022 . Turkish Asisguard Songar armed drone joins Nigeria's growing fleet . 5 December 2023 . Military Africa . en-US.
  27. News: Two Nigerian Air Force (NAF) F-7Ni fighter jets crash during independence day rehearsal African Military Blog. 29 September 2018. African Military Blog. 1 October 2018. en-US. https://web.archive.org/web/20181001142308/https://www.africanmilitaryblog.com/2018/09/two-nigerian-air-force-naf-f-7ni-fighter-jets-crash-during-independence-day-rehearsal. 1 October 2018. live.
  28. News: Abdur Rahman . Alfa Shaban . Nigerian pilot dies in crash during independence day rehearsal . 9 November 2022 . African News . 1 . 28 September 2018.
  29. News: Lionel . Ekene . Two Nigerian Air Force (NAF) F-7Ni fighter jets crash during independence day rehearsal . 9 November 2022 . Military Africa . 1 . Military Africa . 29 September 2018.
  30. Web site: Lionel. Ekene. 1 April 2021. Nigerian air force alpha jet lost during counter terror operations.
  31. News: Tarkaa . David . Missing Aircraft: NAF Secretly Buries Flt Lt Chappelle . 9 November 2022 . Leadership Newspaper . 1 . David Tarkaa . 12 October 2022.
  32. Web site: Nigerian fighter jet shot down by criminals, pilot survives. news.yahoo.com. 19 July 2019. 18 February 2022. AFP.
  33. News: Ewokor . Chris . Nigeria fighter plane shot down by bandits - military . 9 November 2022 . BBC News . 19 July 2021.
  34. Web site: Shiklam . John . BREAKING: 2 NAF Pilots Cheat Death In Makurdi Crash . Leadership Newspaper . John Shiklam . 14 July 2023 . Nigeria . 1 . English . Document . 14 July 2023.
  35. Web site: Inyang . Ifreke . 14 August 2023 . BREAKING: Air Force jet crashes in Niger . 14 August 2023 . Daily Post Nigeria . en-US.
  36. Web site: Egigogo . Maimuna Raji . 14 August 2023 . Nigerian Air Force MI-171 Helicopter crashes . 14 August 2023 . Premium Times Nigeria . en-GB.
  37. Web site: Gabriel . John . 16 August 2023 . 'We brought down surveillance helicopter' - Bandits claim responsibility . 16 August 2023 . Daily Post Nigeria . en-US.
  38. News: Onuah . Felix . Muhammad . Garba . 6 December 2023 . Nigeria's president orders investigation after drone strike kills 85 . en . Reuters . 8 December 2023.
  39. News: 5 December 2023 . Nigeria airstrike 'mistakenly' kills worshippers at religious festival . en-GB . 8 December 2023.
  40. Web site: Oluwasanjo . Ahmed . 4 December 2023 . Nigerian Army admits mistakenly dropping bombs on Kaduna villages from combat drones, 'killing 126 civilians' . 5 December 2023 . Peoples Gazette . en-US.