BREAKING: BANDITS DOWN NAF HELICOPTER, KILL OVER 23 SOLDIERS IN NIGER STATE

Breaking: Bandits Down NAF Helicopter, Kill over 23 Soldiers In Niger State

Over 23 personnel of the Nigerian army have been killed following an ambush on a military convoy by gunmen in Niger State.

The Bandits were also said to have brought down a Nigerian Air Force fighter helicopter on Monday morning in the area and killed the pilot.

The convener, Shiroro Concerned Youths, Mr. Sanni Kokki, disclosed this in a telephone interview on Monday.

Confirming the incident, the senator representing Niger East Senatorial District, Sani Musa, lamented the situation describing it as highly unfortunate.

But in a statement on Monday by the NAF Director of Public Relations and Information, Air Commodore Edward Gabkwet said the aircraft departed Zungeru Primary School en route to Kaduna but was later discovered to have crashed in a village in the Shiroro Local Government Area of Niger State.

Gabkwet said, “A Nigerian Air Force MI-171 helicopter on a casualty evacuation mission crashed today, August 14, 2023, at about 1pm at Chukuba Village in Niger State.

“The aircraft had departed Zungeru Primary School en route Kaduna but was later discovered to have crashed near Chukuba village in Shiroro Local Government Area of Niger State.”

According to another report reaching RPTVBLOG through Sahararepoters Stated that over 23 personnel of the Nigerian army have been killed following an ambush on a military convoy by gunmen suspected to be terrorists in Niger State.

A military source said the incident occurred on Monday morning around 5am.

The incident occurred between Zangiwa and Kangara in the state.

According to the source, an army major and two lieutenants with one identified as Y. Alkali were among the victims.

“Nigerian army this morning lost about 23 soldiers, they were ambushed by bandits. One major, two lieutenants were among the victims. In fact, they set some of them ablaze inside the Hilux vehicle”.

Meanwhile, efforts to reach Onyema Nwachukwu, army spokesperson, for comment were unsuccessful as he didn’t respond to his messages sent to him.