Nigeria’s military have admitted it lost at least 36 personnel to terrorist’s activities in the Niger State area of Nigeria’s northern region.
A troop of officers and soldiers on Monday had been ambushed and decimated by terrorists in the Niger State area, then an Nigerian Air Force MI-171 Helicopter on rescue mission evacuating some dead and wounded soldiers suddenly crashed in Shiroro Local Government Area (LGA) of the state.
Video emerged portraying terrorists celebrating at scene of the crash and claiming they brought down the aircraft killing all passengers on board.
In a briefing to newsmen Thursday, Defence spokesman, General Edward Buba put the total casualty from both incidents at 36 but refused to concede the air force helicopter was shot down, saying investigations was still ongoing and suggesting online video could be terrorists propaganda.
Providing some details, Buba said, “Our troops entered into an ambush in the general of Shiroro Local Government Area of Niger state. The ambush led to a firefight which resulted in the death of three officers, and 22 soldiers while seven were wounded in action. As a result of this, there was a need for us to embark on a casualty operation whereby the Air Force helicopter was dispatched.
“While that process was on and inbound to Kaduna the helicopter crashed. In the crash were 14 of the previously killed in action personnel in that ambush, seven of the previously wounded in action personnel, two pilots of the helicopter and two crew members“.
Nigeria has been battling insurgency, terrorism and banditry in the northern region and the problem had remained intractable through three different governments.
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