Monday 18 July -A Nigerian Air Force (NAF) pilot has survived after bandits shot down the fighter jet on the boundaries of Zamfara and Kaduna State.

Reports on Sunday said a NAF fighter jet battling bandits had crashed in Kaduna, with details sketchy.

But on Monday, the NAF issued a statement confirming the crash, saying that Flight Lieutenant Abayomi Dairo, the pilot of the jet survived.

Director of Public Relations and Information, Air Commodore Edward Gabkwet, in a statement said the pilot survived after he successfully ejected from the aircraft.

According to him, on 18 July, 2021, at about 12.45 pm, a Nigerian Air Force (NAF) Alpha Jet aircraft, returning from a successful air interdiction mission between the boundaries of Zamfara and Kaduna State, came under intense enemy fire which led to its crash in Zamfara State.

“Luckily, the gallant pilot of the aircraft, Flight Lieutenant Abayomi Dairo, successfully ejected from the aircraft,’ the statement said.

Dairo said using his survival instincts, the pilot, who came under intense ground fire from the bandits, was able to evade them and sought refuge in nearby settlements awaiting