At least 36 troopers had been killed in Nigeria’s northcentral area this week throughout an ambush by armed gangs and within the crash of a helicopter despatched to the scene, the army stated Thursday.
The helicopter was shot down by the armed gangs in Niger state’s Wushishi district following clashes earlier within the week, residents informed the Associated Press (AP), echoing warnings from analysts concerning the rising may of the gunmen within the nation’s hard-hit northern area.
Gangs of closely armed males have wreaked havoc throughout northwest Nigeria previously two years, kidnapping hundreds, killing a whole bunch and making it unsafe to journey by highway or to farm in some areas.
Soldiers had been conducting an “offensive operation” in Niger state on Monday once they had been ambushed by the armed gangs, protection spokesman Maj. Gen. Edward Buba informed reporters.
“The ambush and the firefight resulted in the death of three officers, 22 soldiers,” he stated, including that seven troopers had been wounded.
An Air Force Mi-171 was then despatched to evacuate the casualties but it surely crashed in one other a part of the state, ensuing within the loss of life of 14 further army personnel together with the pilots and crew members, Buba stated.
He stated the explanation for the crash is being investigated.
Thousands of Nigerians have been killed within the final yr by the armed gangs which largely comprise former herdsmen who’ve taken up arms after clashing with farming communities for a number of many years over restricted entry to land and water.
The protection spokesman stated a number of different operations had left dozens of gang members both killed or in custody, and stated that the safety forces stay dedicated to restoring peace in violent hotspots.
The assault provides to different challenges confronting Nigeria’s President Bola Tinubu, who’s main efforts by the West Africa regional bloc of ECOWAS – which he chairs – to revive democracy in Niger after the latest coup.
Source: www.dailysabah.com
