Former President Muhammadu Buhari has confirmed that soldiers of the Nigerian Army were ambushed and killed by bandits in Niger State and has mourned the death of the soldiers.
This was contained in a press statement published by his spokesman, Malam Garba Shehu, dated August 19, 2023.
The statement entitled “Ex-President Buhari mourns death of soldiers in Niger State”, former Muhammadu Buhari expressed his anguish over the death of several soldiers who were killed in the ambush, and a subsequent helicopter crash in Niger State.
He said: “I am saddened by the helicopter accident, following the tragic ambush in which we have lost our brave army personnel.
“My thoughts are with the bereaved families. I hope those injured recover at the earliest.
“My heartfelt condolences to the President, Bola Ahmed Tinubu, the Armed Forces of the Federation and the families of the deceased.
“With the soldier-discipline in our troops, it is a matter of time before they overcome,” the former President said.
It could be recalled that News Band, on Aug 15, 2023, reported evidence indicating that the MI-171 Fighter Helicopter belonging to the Nigeria Air Force (NAF) en route to Kaduna but crashed in Niger State did not actually crash but was shot down by bandits.
According to further report, the bandits also killed the pilot as well as other thirteen soldiers.
News Band’ s earlier report on August 14, 2023, quoted the spokesman of the Nigerian Air Force, Air Commodore Edward Gabkwet as saying in a statement said that the aircraft left Zungeru Primary School en route to Kaduna but was later discovered to have crashed in a village in Shiroro local government area of Niger.
He said: “A Nigerian Air Force MI-171 Helicopter on a casualty evacuation mission crashed today, August 14, 2023, at about 1.1.00 pm Chukuba Village in Niger State.
“The aircraft had departed Zungeru Primary School en route Kaduna but was later discovered to have crashed near Chukuba Village in Shiroro Local Government Area of Niger State.
“Efforts are currently ongoing to rescue the crew and passengers on board the helicopter, while preliminary investigations have commenced to determine the probable cause of the crash”.
However, the villagers who witnessed the crash, reported that bandits actually invaded the village and killed 13 Soldiers.
In the course of the invasion, they also brought down the fighter helicopter and killed the pilot.
