The Defence Headquarters (DHQ) on Thursday said that 29 personnel were on board the crashed Nigerian Air Force Helicopter (NAF) helicopter in Niger State.
Director of Defence Media Operations (DDMO), Major General Edward Buba stated this while updating defence correspondents on the military operations by the Troops of the AFN and other security forces in the six geo-political zones of the country against insurgent activities in the country.
Speaking on the NAF helicopter that crashed in Zungeru Shiroro Local Government Areas of Niger State earlier in the week the Director, said that an investigation was in progress to determine the cause of the incident and urged citizens to be wary of propaganda by terrorists
According to him, “21 soldiers and 3 officers were on board with 2 pilots and 2 crew members, a thorough investigation is ongoing.
He declared that the troops of the Armed Forces of Nigeria (AFN), will continue to respond with overwhelming military force against any group that threatens the safety of citizens and their own forces.
According to him, “The military is strategically deployed across the country to conduct operations aimed at curtailing the activities of violent extremist groups fomenting insecurity in the country.
“To this end, troops will continue to respond with overwhelming military force against any group that threatens the safety of citizens and own forces. The men and women of the armed forces will continue to put themselves in harm’s way, time and time again, to protect our great nation.
“During the week leading to 17 August 2023, the military neutralised 28 terrorists, arrested 92 terrorists, 6 gunrunners, 3 kidnappers, 6 collaborators, and 7 perpetrators of oil theft. Troops also rescued 82 kidnapped hostages and denied oil theft the sum of N876,451,800.00.
“Overall, troops recovered 108 weapons and 564 ammunition. The breakdown as follows: 22 AK47 rifles, one PKT gun, 6 pump action guns, 4 dane guns, one fabricated rifle, one galil ace rifle, one RGP bomb, one RPG tube, 44 hand grenades, 322 rounds of 7.62mm special, 63 rounds of 12.7mm ammo, 12 rounds of 5.6mm ammo, 33 AK47 magazines, one empty case of 7.62mm special and 3 empty magazines.
“Other items include; 14 motorcycles, 16 mobile phones, 3 Motorolla radio, one boafeng radio, 2 motorcycle tyres, 5 touch lights, 2 solar panels, 104 livestock and the sum of N2,896,400.00.”
