How 36 Officers, Soldiers Were Killed In Niger State Ambush, Helicopter Crash – Defence Headquarters

How 36 Officers, Soldiers Were Killed In Niger State Ambush, Helicopter Crash – Defence Headquarters

The Defence Headquarters (DHQ) has provided detailed information regarding the soldiers who were killed in an ambush and the subsequent crash of a Nigerian Air Force (NAF) MI17 helicopter in Niger State on Monday.

In a briefing to journalists on Thursday, Major General Edward Buba, the Director of Defence Media Operations, disclosed that a total of 36 officers and soldiers were involved in the two incidents.

Major General Buba explained that three officers and 22 soldiers tragically lost their lives in the ambush that occurred in the Zungeru general area. Additionally, seven soldiers were wounded during the attack.

Regarding the helicopter crash, he revealed that the NAF helicopter was en route to evacuate the deceased and wounded troops from the ambush site when it crashed in the Chukuba area of Shiroro Local Government Area in the state.

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The helicopter was carrying 14 bodies of soldiers who had been killed in action, seven wounded soldiers, two pilots, and two crew members.

Edward Gabkwet, the Director of Public Relations and Information for the NAF, also provided insights, stating that the cause of the crash was yet to be determined.

He emphasized that investigations were ongoing to ascertain the reason behind the accident.

Gabkwet cautioned against spreading unverified information on social media, urging the public not to inadvertently become conduits for propagandist messages disseminated by adversaries of the state.

He stressed the importance of unity and support for the military’s efforts in tackling insurgency.

Gabkwet acknowledged that military accidents are an inherent part of complex operations like countering insurgency and reminded the public that it’s crucial to stand behind their armed forces during such challenges.