The Nigerian Air Force swiftly issued a statement claiming the bombing did not occur. But the state governor contradicted the military in a condolence message.
He noted that NAF had done well over the past few years, as evident in the number of new platforms it acquired, such as JF-17 Thunder and A-29 Super Tucano aircraft.
The minister called on all Nigerians to support the troops and to continue to remember them in their prayers.
The Alpha-jet lost contact with radar in Borno while on an interdiction mission to support ground troops.
The new defence chief paid his first operational visit to the Theatre Command in Maiduguri on Sunday.
