Questions are being raised after a Nigerian Navy chopper (NNJI3) was found in a forest in the South-West region.
Newsflash Nigeria could not ascertain the exact state but an informant disclosed that locals saw and recorded the helicopter on Thursday June 3.
The accuracy of the date is yet to be verified. The footage is generating comments and conspiracies on social media.
There are speculations as to whether the aircraft was on an official mission amid the security challenges in the country.
Apart from full military operations, the Navy collaborates with the Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency (NIMASA).
The Navy provides regular patrol and escort support for NIMASA in line with the mandate of their partnership.
A source close to military chiefs said the chopper might have been on a trip legally assigned.
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“If the number starts with NN, it belongs to the Navy. My guess is there are pipelines in the area. The Navy conducts aerial surveillance too.
“If intelligence had indicated a situation that needed to be monitored, pilots would be dispatched immediately to carry out an assessment”, he explained.
Director of Naval Information, Commodore Suleman Dahun said that the chopper was not on an illegal mission.
“It is not true that the helicopter was carrying arms to anybody. They were on a routine training exercise. A formal statement will follow”, the spokesman said.
