One of Nigerian Air Force (NAF) helicopters crashed in combat on Wednesday night while providing close air support to troops of 145 Battalion at Damasak in Northern Borno State.
NAF’s Director of Public Relations and Information, Air Commodore Ibikunle Daramola, who released the information, however did not disclose the model of the helicopter or how many personnel were on board as at the time the crash.
Currently, the Nigerian Air Force has in its fleet over a dozen of Russian made helicopters, MMil Mi-17 and Mil Mi-24 models.
The NAF’s spokesman said the aircraft was involved in the on-going counter-insurgency operations in the North East.
“The incident occurred about 7:45 pm today, 2 January 2019. Details of the cause of the crash are still scanty”, Daramola said.
“As soon as the details of the crash are known, they will be made available to the public”, he added.
The loss happened hours after Daramola informed the nation that
The Air Task Force (ATF) of Operation LAFIYA DOLE destroyed a building being used as meeting venue by Boko Haram fighters near Baga in Northern Borno State.
According to him, “The attack was conducted 1 Jan 2019, after series of Intelligence, Surveillance and Reconnaissance (ISR) missions confirmed that the building was being used as an assembly point by the terrorists. Consequently, the ATF dispatched a NAF Alpha Jet aircraft to attack the building.”
“A direct hit was recorded on the target leading to significant damage to the structure and neutralisation of the occupants”, Daramola said in his statement.
