About 36 Nigerian soldiers have been killed by bandits and in a helicopter crash
About 36 Nigerian soldiers have been killed by bandits and in a helicopter crash
At least 36 Nigerian soldiers have been killed in two attacks during an operation against armed gangs in northern Niger state. The Nigerian Army has announced that armed gangs have wreaked havoc across northwest Nigeria over the past two years, kidnapping thousands, killing hundreds and making it unsafe to travel on roads or farm in some areas. Army spokesman Major-General Edward Buba said three officers and 22 soldiers were killed, and seven other soldiers were injured during an ambush attack near Kundu village in Shiroro local government area of Niger state on August 14. An Air Force Mi-171 helicopter sent to evacuate casualties crashed near Chukuba village in Shiroro on Monday, killing several soldiers.
While Buba has not confirmed the cause of the accident, two military sources say that the helicopter may have been shot down after being targeted by criminal gangs. Boko Haram terrorist Buba said. In a separate military operation in Kaduna state, soldiers rescued 10 hostages who were being held in a village in Igabi local government of the state following a tip-off, and killed the kidnappers after a gun battle. Attacks by the gangs, often referred to as bandits, have confused Nigeria's security forces, which have been battling Boko Haram and ISIS or ISWAP terrorists in the northern region of the country.
