NAF Helicopter Crashes in Niger State During Evacuation Mission

A tragic incident occurred today, August 14, 2023, when a Nigerian Air Force (NAF) helicopter crashed near Chukuba Village in Shiroro Local Government Area of Niger State.

The helicopter was on a mission to evacuate casualties from Zungeru Primary School to Kaduna.

According to a statement by the NAF Director of Public Relations and Information, Air Commodore Edward Gabkwet, the MI-171 helicopter took off from Kaduna around 1.00 pm and was expected to land in Minna, the Niger state capital. However, it was later discovered that the helicopter had crashed in a village in Shiroro.

Gabkwet said that efforts are currently underway to rescue the crew and passengers on board the helicopter, while preliminary investigations have commenced to determine the probable cause of the crash.

He did not disclose the number of people on board or the nature of the casualties that were being evacuated.

The NAF has been involved in several operations in Niger State, which has been plagued by banditry and kidnapping in recent times.

In May, the NAF deployed fighter jets and helicopter gunships to provide air support for ground troops in repelling attacks by armed bandits. In June, the NAF also conducted air strikes against suspected bandit camps in the state.

The crash of the NAF helicopter is the latest in a series of air mishaps involving military aircraft in Nigeria.

In February, a NAF Beechcraft King Air B350i aircraft crashed near Abuja airport, killing all seven personnel on board. In March, a NAF Alpha Jet went missing while conducting a routine mission in Borno State. The jet was later confirmed to have been shot down by terrorists.

The NAF has expressed its condolences to the families of the victims of the helicopter crash and assured them of its support. It has also appealed to the public to remain calm and await the outcome of the investigation.

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