It was reported over the weekend that Senator Muhammed Ali Ndume escaped death by the whiskers when his convoy was hit by massive bombs dropped from a military fighter jet during his trip to his country home in Gwoza, which is now under siege by the Boko Haram insurgents.
It was reported that the bombs zipped through the senator’s motorcade skidding off the road, resulting in injuries, though no life was lost.
The Nigerian Air Force has released a statement debunking allegations of targeting Ndume’s convoy.
Read the press release below:
MEDIA RELEASE NIGERIAN AIR FORCE JET DID NOT SHOOT SENATOR NDUME’S CONVOY
1. The attention of the Nigerian Air Force has been drawn to reports in some media houses which allegedly said its aircraft targeted and bombed Senator Ali Ndumen’s convoy on Saturday 11 January 2014. The reports misquoted the Director of Information as having said the fighter jets mistakenly fired on the Senator’s convoy. For the avoidance of doubt, Nigerian Air Force aircraft did not target Senator Ndume’s convoy as alleged.
2. It is public knowledge that Military Operations in the North East particularly in Borno State are ongoing. The Nigerian Air Force is constantly involved with the Nigerian Army and other security agencies in a coordinated manner aim at defeating the Boko Haram terrorists. Nigerian Air Force has well trained pilots who would not conduct operational missions based on speculation or mistaken identity.
Y ANAS
Air Commodore
Director of Public Relations & Information
