The Defence Headquarters (DHQ) has revealed that three officers, 22 soldiers, three officers, two pilots and crew members were killed, while seven persons were wounded in action during an ambush, which resulted in a fire-fight with insurgents in Shiroro, Niger State.
Director, Defence Media Operations (DDMO), Maj-Gen. Edward Buba, disclosed this at a media briefing on Thursday in Abuja.
He explained that following the confrontation, an Air Force plane was deployed to evacuate 17 dead and seven wounded-in-action soldiers to Kaduna.
Buba noted that in the process of the evacuation operation, the plane crashed, Buba debunked reports that the plane was shot down, adding that investigation was ongoing to ascertain the cause of the crash.
He said 28 terrorists were decimated during the encounter.
Buba stated: “No group will strike own troops without injurious consequences. Troops will use superior force to eliminate enemies of state.
“Troops will bring overwhelming military force on any group undermining the peace of the nation. It is stating the obvious that the Armed Forces possess the power and the will to hunt down those who wish to bring harm to our citizens.
“The ongoing operation is a direct message to those who question the resolve of the military. It is also a message to members of the violent extremist groups that think that they can hide.
“They can rest assured that others will raise their sons and daughters, that is if they have sons and daughters.
“I wish to, on behalf of the Chief of Defence Staff, express my heartfelt condolences to the families and friends of officers and men, who were killed in an ambush by terrorists and the fire-fight that ensued. Three officers, 22 soldiers, two pilots and crew members died, while seven were wounded in action.
“Casualty evacuation followed, while the operation was on return to Kaduna, the plane carrying 17 previously killed crashed. Seven wounded in action, two pilots and two crew members were killed.”
Also, the spokesman of the Nigerian Air Force, Air Commodore Edward Gabkwet, said the cause of the crash was yet to be ascertained.
According to him, At the moment, we don’t know what caused that aircraft to come down.