The Nigerian Air Force (NAF) has confirmed that one of its unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) crashed in Niger State after losing communication during a routine operational mission on Friday.
The incident occurred in the Kontagora forest within the Operation FASAN YAMMA Sector 3 area, where the UAV was deployed for sustained counter-insurgency operations.
According to the Air Force, communication with the platform was lost mid-mission, triggering established emergency response procedures.
Air Commodore Ehimen Ejodame, director of public relations and information of the Nigerian Air Force, said the situation was swiftly contained and did not result in any casualties or disruption to ongoing military operations.
“All attempts to restore communication with the platform were unsuccessful, prompting the crew to activate established emergency return-to-base procedures in line with standard operational protocols,” Ejodame said.
He explained that the Air Force immediately initiated coordinated response and recovery measures, working closely with sister services and relevant authorities to secure the UAV and ensure safety within the operational area.
“The UAV has since been successfully contained, while assessment and recovery activities are progressing as planned,” he added.
Ejodame further stated that technical teams have secured the platform and commenced preliminary evaluations in line with established safety and operational procedures to determine the cause of the loss of communication.
The Nigerian Air Force reassured the public that there was no loss of life or injury from the incident and that counter-insurgency operations across all theatres remain uninterrupted in the interest of national security.