Military says 3 officers, 22 soldiers killed by terrorists in Niger

The Military High Command yesterday disclosed that no fewer than 3 officers and 22 soldiers were killed during the ambush on troops in Niger State.

Maj.-Gen. Edward Buba, the Director of Defence Media Operations, who revealed this at Defence Headquarters, Abuja, at a press briefing, also said 7 troops were wounded in action by terrorists.

He said the incident prompted the deployment of the crashed Nigerian Air Force evacuation aircraft, adding that two pilots and two crew members later became victims.

“Our troops entered into an ambush in 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 that no group could attack its troops and go scot-free, adding that 14 previously killed were in the jet during the crash.