Nigeria’s military on Friday dismissed claims that a man beheaded by Boko Haram fighters in the group’s latest video was an air force pilot in a fighter jet that went missing three weeks ago.
Boko Haram leader Abubakar Shekau had claimed in the footage obtained by AFP on Thursday that militants shot down the Alpha Jet and showed wreckage of an aircraft which included the Nigerian Air Force’s green and white roundel.
A man, wearing a camouflage print T-shirt and with a heavily bandaged hand in a sling, was seen later kneeling in front of an unmasked Boko Haram fighter in combat fatigues and saying in English that he was one of the pilots.
He appears to give his name, rank and date of birth but the video is inaudible. He is killed after he finishes speaking.
Asked directly about whether the man was an air force pilot, as claimed, spokesman Air Commodore Dele Alonge told AFP: “The man shown in the Boko Haram video is not our officer.
“The picture of a man beheaded in the video is superimposed,” he said without elaborating. “Our plane is still missing and we are looking for it. Boko Haram is just making unfounded claims.”
AFP asked the same question to defence spokesman Major General Chris Olukolade, who announced last week that Shekau was dead.
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| DHQ spokesman, Major-General Chris Olukolade |
Despite some military sources claiming the man beheaded in the Boko Haram video is unknown to them, friends of Wing Commander Chimda Hedima have paid him tribute. They also told the story of how the brave young man killed as many Boko Haram men as he could, knowing he would be captured. See the tribute below...
On 11/09/14, a company of NA soldiers attempted to overrun a Boko Haram position in Borno. Due to the low altitude, the plane suffered significant damage from the terrorists' gun fire. Wing Commander Hedima & his partner realized that they were going to crash.
Instead of hurriedly parachuting to safety within Nigerian controlled territory, they chose to embark on a mission to destroy as many terrorists and their weapons as possible. They parachuted out at the last minute but not before ensuring their plane slammed into a column of terrorists in which 63 Boko Haram members were killed as a result of their bravery. Wing Commander Hedima was captured.
On 12/09/14, he was killed by the Boko Haram.
He chose Nigeria, he chose all of us. We cannot forget him. Please share his story. His name should be known by everyone.
Rest In Peace Commander, we are grateful.
May you find eternal peace in the bosom of the almighty God.
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