The Defence Headquarters (DHQ) says 36 officers were killed in the recent attack in Niger State .
Director Defence Media Operations, Major General Edward Buba, made this known on Thursday when he gave a breakdown of casualties in the ambush of troops in Niger State and an evacuation helicopter that crashed on August 14, 2023.
The breakdown was given at the biweekly briefing of the Defence Media Operations.
Responding to questions about the cause of the helicopter crash, Buba said that an investigation is still underway to determine the cause and urged citizens to be wary of propaganda by terrorists .
Last Sunday night, bandits ambushed troops in the Zungeru area of the state and killed no fewer than twenty soldiers.
A day after, the bandits reportedly downed a Nigerian Air Force MI-171 Helicopter on a casualty evacuation mission in the Shiroro Local Government Area (LGA) of the state.
The Chief of Army Staff,( COAS) Lt. Gen.Taoreed Lagbaja was in the Army Division in Shiroro late Tuesday night to assess the situation and, while boosting the morale of the soldiers,directed immediate reinforcement of troops in the area.
Banditry is a common phenomenon in Niger state in recent years following the discovery of precious mineral resources such as gold, gypsum, Silver , iron ore, uranium,coal and Petroleum.
The bandits make life unbearable for villagers as they kidnap and kill them at will.
