Nigeria’s airforce police spokesman reported that an airplane carrying seven people had crashed near its capital on Monday. The tragedy left the seven passengers who were on board lifeless. Sources revealed that the airplane was on a surveillance mission connected with an operation to salvage dozens of people kidnapped from a school in Nigeria on Wednesday.
The Crash
It is not yet clear what might have caused the accident. However, officials reported that initially, the pilot had complained of engine failure.
“The Nigerian Air Force (NAF) Beechcraft KingAir B359i aircraft crashed while returning to Abuja Airport after reporting engine failure,” Daramola said.
The tragedy has rekindled sadness in the country. More so, those who are related to the deceased personnel. Videos making rounds on social media showed water cannons being used to extinguish the burning flames.
Also, there were scores of onlookers at the scene hoping to get to know what was happening. Though the deceased had lost their lives, they were not burnt beyond recognition. The incident sure presented Nigeria with a difficult time mourning and planning to rescue the staff and students.
Investigations
Nigeria’s Minister for aviation, Sirika Hadi, confirmed the accident while addressing the concerned parties. He urged the people to remain calm, as the military had already kicked off the investigations. This is what he said in a tweet:
“We should remain calm and wait for the outcome of the investigation by the military.”
The Abduction
Insurgencies have been resurgent in Nigeria, with women and children being abducted. Recently, shooters ambushed a government-sponsored school in the northwestern state of Niger. Witnesses confirmed that the rebels were firing live bullets at anyone and everything. Niger is among Nigeria’s states plagued with insecurity now and then.
And it has become a habit for the armed rebels to kidnap innocent civilians and demand ransom. While in the school, the assailants forced school girls into the forest and some teachers. Some students even got injured while fleeing the kidnappers. Only one teacher managed to escape the wrath of the armed men.
Those who did not manage to escape were driven off to unknown destinations. The tragedy rekindled memories of a similar attack that occurred in a public school in the country. The incident transpired two months ago. Assailants had launched a similar attack in the northwestern region in a school called Katsina. They were only released after the rebels extorted money from the government following a deal.
The infamous group in Nigeria perpetration the atrocities is known as Boko Haram. This insurgent group has been active in the region since ten years ago. Boko Haram, a defamed militia group, has received global attention for its activities. More so since the 2014 incident when it abducted 300 schoolgirls in Chibok. They only released two hundred girls while the other 100 remain unaccounted for.
Meanwhile, the government, if Nigeria has been working its level best to end the insurgent groups. They have even received aid from international friends. Nonetheless, the attacks are still recurrent as the militia groups are luring young men into joining them.
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