Nigerian Air Force Clarifies Drone Crash in Kaduna, Dispels Helicopter Crash Rumors
The Nigerian Air Force (NAF) confirmed that an Unmanned Aerial Vehicle (UAV), commonly known as a drone, crashed in Kaduna on Monday morning, contrary to earlier reports of a helicopter crash.
AVM Edward Gabkwet, Director of Public Relations and Information for NAF, issued a statement in Abuja to address the misinformation.
“Contrary to reports on social media and some traditional media outlets, no NAF helicopter crashed in Kaduna on July 1. Instead, a NAF Unmanned Aerial Vehicle experienced a mishap after take-off for a mission near Rumji Village, about 15 km from the Base. Since it is an unmanned vehicle, there were no casualties on board or on the ground,” Gabkwet clarified.
He added that a preliminary investigation has begun to determine the cause of the mishap and assured Nigerians that this minor setback would not impact ongoing operations.
Gabkwet emphasized the need for accurate reporting and cautioned against rushing to publish news without verifying facts. “The propensity to always rush to press in the name of ‘breaking news’ without a hold of the complete facts should be discouraged in its entirety. Some outlets misinformed Nigerians about a helicopter crash without clarifying from the NAF. This attitude negates the principles of developmental journalism, balanced reporting, and fairness.”
He urged media outlets to seek clarification from authorized military sources before publishing such reports.
