Airforce helicopter crashes in Niger State

…Rescue efforts in progress — NAF Spokesperson

A Nigerian Air Force MI-171 Helicopter on a casualty evacuation mission has been reported to have crashed yesterday at about 1.00pm near Chukuba Village in Niger State.

The aircraft had departed Zungeru Primary School enroute Kaduna but was later discovered to have crashed near Chukuba Village in Shiroro Local Government Area of Niger State.

Air Commodore Edward Gabkwet, Director of Public Relations and Information of the Nigerian Air Force in a statement stated that efforts are currently ongoing to rescue the crew and passengers on board the helicopter as at the time of filing this report.

He added that preliminary investigations have commenced to determine the probable cause of the crash.