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- CDS condoles with families of deceased soldiers, vows to end insecurity
From Molly Kilete, Abuja
The Defence Headquarters (DHQ) has confirmed the death of 25 soldiers killed in an ambush in Shiroro local government area of Niger State.
The Director, Defence Media Operations (DMO), Major General Edward Buba, who made this known, said three officers and 22 soldiers were killed in the Attack.
Buba, at a media briefing on military operations conducted across the country in the last two weeks explained that 14, soldiers killed in the ambush and seven others injured were being evacuated with a Nigerian Air Force helicopter when it crashed killing the pilot, co-pilot and two crew members.
Gen Buba, maintained that the aircraft crashed and not brought down by the terrorists as it is being speculated.
Buba while commiserating with the families, colleagues and friends of the deceased officers said already troops have advanced to recover the bodies of the deceased soldiers.
He also said that the armed forces would investigate the cause of the crash and make the outcome of the investigation public as soon as it is completed.
Briefing reporters on the sad incident, Gen Buba, said: “Sadly, it is no more news that we sustained casualties on 14 Aug 23 in two separate but related occurrences. It is on this note that on behalf of the CDS, I express our heartfelt condolences to the families, friends and colleagues of all those killed in action as a result of the occurrences. Troops while conducting offensive operations around Kundu general area in Shiroro LGA of Niger State got into an ambush.
“Following a fire fight, 3 officers and 22 soldiers were killed in action, 7 soldiers wounded in action. Subsequently, the NAF MI-171 Hel was despatched to evacuated the casualties. While out bound to Kaduna, the helicopter crashed with 14 of the earlier killed in action personnel, 7 of the earlier wounded in action personnel, 2 pilots and 2 crew members of the helicopter. Operations are ongoing to recover the bodies and investigate the cause of the air crash which will be communicated. Surely, no group will strike own troops with impunity.”
He called on Nigerians to support the military in its determination to wipe out terrorists, bandits, kidnappers and other criminals terrorizing the peace of the country rather than celebrating the terrorists by posting videos of the deceased soldiers and the crashed aircraft on the social media to demoralise morale of troops who are mourning the death of their colleagues.
The killing not withstanding, Gen Buba, said the Nigerian armed forces are more than ever determined to wipe out insecurity in the country.
He said so far, the armed forces have deployed additional troops who are now combing the entire forest and killed several of the bandits.
