Bandits Kill 13 Soldiers In Niger State; Nigerian Air Force Helicopter Crashes

Bandits have killed 13 soldiers in the Chukuba Ward of the Shiroro Local Government Area of Niger State. A Nigerian Air Force fighter helicopter crashed during the clashes killing one pilot.

Shiroro Concerned Youths' convener, Sanni Kokki disclosed on Monday that the "unfortunate incident" took place on Monday morning. Around 50 bandits were also killed during the clashes, which happened after the bandits attacked the area. A military helicopter which was being used to take away the bodies crashed during the mission.

"As we speak, villagers living around the area are all now moving toward Erena," he said, Punch reported. "This is another problem because people are being displaced from their traditional homes to unknown destinations."

Kokki noted that the state is going through a "humanitarian crisis" alongside economic challenges. The senator representing Niger East Senatorial District, Sani Musa also condemned the incident, noting that it is highly unfortunate.

"This is a very serious situation happening at a time we are happy that the issue of banditry is subsiding in our various communities in Niger State," Musa said. "The Federal Government should, as a matter of urgency, deploy all its arsenal to curtail further spread."

Musa went on to explain that the Niger East Senatorial District is trying to reduce such attacks.

However, now it "appears as if there is a serious escalation of the situation," adding that the "most alarming situation now is that the attacks look like a planned work because the bandits are carrying out their operations simultaneously in many parts of Niger State."

He added, "Government should please, as a matter of urgency, take drastic action on it and save lives and property of our people."

The Nigerian Air Force (NAF) also issued a statement on Monday, confirming the crash, noting that the aircraft departed Zungeru Primary School en route to Kaduna but it crashed in a village in the Shiroro Local Government Area of Niger State.

NAF Director of Public Relations and Information, Air Commodore Edward Gabkwet said, "A Nigerian Air Force MI-171 helicopter on a casualty evacuation mission crashed today, August 14, 2023, at about 1 pm at Chukuba Village in Niger State."

Such killings in Nigeria are not new as the country is dealing with several internal conflicts. The attacks from bandits increased in the early 2020s. In April 2022, more than 150 were killed in Plateau State by a gang of bandits.

In a separate incident, 13 people were killed on Saturday in two different attacks by Boko Haram Jihadists in the villages of Wulari and Maiwa in northeastern Nigeria's Borno.