Dairo: An Officer’s Exemplary Heroism

BRIEFINGNOTES

After recording human and material losses in recent jet crashes, the Nigerian Air Force (NAF) has redeemed its image with the unprecedented exemplary heroism demonstrated by Flight Lieutenant Abayomi Dairo, a pilot, who successfully ejected from a fighter jet downed by bandits in Zamfara State, Ejiofor Alike writes

When unconfirmed report went viral on Sunday, July 18, 2021 that bandits had downed another Nigerian Air Force (NAF) Alpha Jet, an obviously embarrassed NAF promptly debunked the story, claiming that it had not received such report.

The unverified report had claimed that the jet, which left the NAF Base in Yola, the Adamawa State capital on Sunday evening for an anti-banditry operation crashed in a village in Kaduna State.
But in a swift response, the NAF’s Director of Public Relations and Information (DOPRI), Air Commodore Edward Gabkwet, said the headquarters had not received any operational report of crash of its aircraft and that no alpha jet left Yola for Kaduna.

The crash, which was later confirmed, was the fourth incident recorded by NAF in recent months as no fewer than 20 military officers had lost their lives in the last six months in three previous crashes involving NAF jets.

On Sunday, February 21, 2021, seven NAF officers died onboard a Beechcraft KingAir B350i aircraft when the jet crashed in Abuja.

Again, on Wednesday, March 31, 2021, NAF spokesman, Air Commodore Edward Gabkwet, said an Alpha-Jet aircraft involved in the anti-terror war against Boko Haram and Islamic State West Africa Province (ISWAP) lost radar contact in Borno State.
Two officers were onboard the missing jet which was later declared crashed and the whereabouts of the two airmen unknown till date.

On May 21, 2021, a NAF jet crash at Kaduna International Airport had claimed the lives of 11 senior military officers, including the then Chief of Army Staff, Lt. Gen. Ibrahim Attahiru, his aides, and the flight crew.
However, as NAF was counting the human and material losses arising from these embarrassing incidents, the heroism displayed by the Dairo in this latest crash has brought honour and glory to the force.
As soon as NAF confirmed the survival of Dairo on Monday, July 19, 2021, it promptly confirmed the crash, basking in the euphoria of the glory associated with his gallantry.

According to a statement issued by Air Commodore Gabkwet: “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. 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 sunset.

“Using the cover of darkness and his phone set for navigation, Flight Lieutenant Dairo was able to elude several bandits’ strongholds and maneuvered his way to a Nigerian Army Unit, where he was finally rescued.
“It is instructive to note that upon receipt of the news of the crash, the Chief of Air Staff, Air Marshal Oladayo Amao, had directed that all efforts must be emplaced to rescue the pilot.

“Accordingly, NAF Intelligence Surveillance Reconnaissance (ISR) platforms and helicopter gunships provided close air support to NAF Special Forces and Nigerian Army troops who were able to locate the crash site and the pilot’s parachute, while also combing nearby locations for any sign of the pilot.

“It is gladdening to note that while in hiding, Flight Lieutenant Dairo confirmed that the presence of NAF aircraft within the vicinity of the crash site helped in scaring the bandits who were after him, thus enabling him to find refuge and escape to a safe location”.

In his personal account of the incident, Dairo had narrated that before the Sunday incident, he had been having dreams where he saw himself fighting and evading enemies in what looked like real-time war.
He disclosed that when his jet was shot and his flight controls were destroyed, he had no choice than to eject.

“I just said ‘God, finally, here we go’… As I was flanked by the bandits, I kept praying and I kept telling God to answer your (his friends’) prayers because I know you were all praying for me. I love you all. And I thank God for bestowing his love on me and saving me from death several times within that period… I will still share my testimonies but truly, God ordered my steps, the bandits (meanwhile, they are ruthless like Boko Haram, I don’t know why we still call them bandits) were more interested in capturing me than shooting me at (even at point blank range), eventually they got neither”.

Dairo acknowledged that it was God who gave him the strength to run and walk for almost 30 kilometers, even with one strained leg.

“The village I eventually entered at night, I told God that the first person I see and call should favour me and that happened – he gave me clothes, pain-relieving drugs, food and water and even malt, and he organised for a bike to carry me to DanSadau early next morning.”

Indeed, Dairo demonstrated exemplary bravery to bring honour to NAF and the country but he acknowledged the hands of God in his survival.
After all, a NAF pilot, whose jet had reportedly suffered similar fate in the hands of Boko Haram fighters in September 2014, was eventually captured by the terrorists and beheaded, after running several kilometers for his dear life.

The terrorists displayed the video of the wreckage of the downed jet and the beheading of the officer identified as Wing Commander Chimda Hedima.
In what was regarded as a face-saving reaction, the military had dismissed the claim that the officer beheaded was its pilot.
However, Dairo’s heroic feat has brought honour to not only NAF, but the entire country.