A military training aircraft belonging to the Nigerian Air Force has crashed near Karabonde, a settlement located within Borgu Local Government Area of Niger State in North Central Nigeria. The incident occurred on Saturday afternoon, drawing immediate attention from residents and security watchers across the region.
According to information shared by Lapai Television, an online digital media platform based in Niger State, the aircraft involved was an Alpha Jet operated by the Nigerian Air Force. The platform stated in a brief update posted on its official Facebook page that the two officers on board were able to eject before the crash. The update read: “Two Nigerian Air Force Pilots Reportedly Survive Alpha Jet Crash Close to Karabonde, Borgu Local Government Area of Niger State.”
Okay News reports that this initial notice was supported by visual evidence provided in a fifty-seven-second video that showed local residents gathering near the smoke-filled crash site.
Further confirmation came from an eyewitness who earlier contacted journalists through a forty-eight-second WhatsApp voice note and an additional fifty-nine-second video clip. The eyewitness stated that both pilots managed to eject successfully before the aircraft descended to the ground. He explained, “I think the aircraft took off from the Kainji Air Force Base. We learnt that the air force is mobilising to the crash site.”
A resident of the area, identified as Lukman Sulaiman, also verified the occurrence during a telephone conversation with reporters. He gave additional details about the moment the jet came down, saying, “The incident happened around 4.10pm. It landed very close town but God so good, the pilots ejected safely.”
When asked whether the pilots sustained injuries, he responded, “Yes, we heard a noisy landing crash. We were scared. But we eventually started trooping back to the scene.”
Videos circulating among community members show the aircraft engulfed in flames, with thick smoke rising from the wreckage shortly after the crash.
As at the time of filing this report, the military authorities in Nigeria have not yet issued an official public statement regarding the cause of the incident or the condition of the pilots.
