Three officers and 22 soldiers, according to the military high command, were among those murdered when troops in Niger state were ambushed.
Speaking to media on Thursday in Abuja, Maj. Gen. Edward Buba, Director of Media Operations, stated that seven soldiers were hurt in the attack.
According to him, the incident called for the use of the wrecked Air Force evacuation aircraft.
Buba reported that two pilots, two crew members, and 14 troops who had already died were aboard the wrecked aircraft along with seven soldiers who had been injured.
He 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.”
He, however, vowed “injurious consequences ” on the bandits for attacking the troops.
“One thing is for sure. No one or group would strike at own troops without injurious consequences,” Buba said.
