A helicopter from the Nigerian Air Force tragically crashed today in the northern-central state of Niger. Reports suggest that the helicopter was targetted by armed bandits during its mission.
The crash occurred close to Chukuba village in the Shiroro local government area according to the air force’s spokesperson, Air Commodore Edward Gabkwet.
A thorough investigation is currently underway to determine the details of the incident. At this point, it remains unclear how many individuals were aboard the helicopter during the unfortunate event.
Niger State is situated many kilometres southeast of Niamey, the capital of Niger, where a junta took control through a coup last month.
According to two military sources, the helicopter was shot at by bandits while engaged in the mission to rescue victims of a previous attack that took place on Sunday. The attack had resulted in the loss of at least 10 soldiers who were ambushed.
Nigeria’s northwest region has been grappling with the prevalence of armed gangs that engage in acts of robbery and kidnapping for ransom. Tragically, these criminal activities have led to the loss of numerous lives over the past few years.
In addition to these challenges, there is a presence of the Islamist group Boko Haram in northern Nigeria, alongside the Islamic State of West Africa, a regional affiliate of the global Islamic State. These groups further contribute to the complex security situation in the region.
