Tears, anguish as military buries 20 soldiers killed in Niger
By Emma Ogbuehi
It was an atmosphere, characterised by tears and anguish as the rank and file of the Nigerian Armed Forces were joined by family members and friends for the burial of 22 of the military personnel who died in combat in Niger State.
The military had, last week, revealed that 36 personnel were slain during an ambush by terrorists at Zungeru-Tegina Road and the subsequent jet crash that happened in Chukuba area of Shiroro, all in Niger State.
The Director, Defence Media Operations, Edward Buba, who made the disclosure, said that a total of 36 officers and soldiers were involved in the two incidents.
Buba, said that three officers and 22 soldiers paid the supreme price in the ambush in Zungeru general area while seven were wounded in action.
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He explained that the NAF helicopter was on a mission to evacuate the deceased and wounded troops when it crashed in the Chukuba area of Shiroro Local Government Area of the state.
He said the crashed helicopter was conveying 14 bodies of the previously killed soldiers and the seven wounded ones as well the two pilots and two crew members on board.
“The ambush and the firefight resulted in the death of three officers, and 22 soldiers, while seven were wounded in action.
“As a result of this, there was a need for casualty evacuation whereby the air force helicopter was dispatched while that operation was on and inbound to Kaduna, the helicopter crashed.
“It crashed with 14 of the previously killed in action personnel at the ambush, seven of the previously wounded in action personnel at the ambush, two pilots of the helicopter and two crew members.
Reports from the burial, on Friday, have it that the Minister of Defence, Abubakar Badaru, and his counterpart for State, Bello Matawalle, as well as the Chief of Defence Staff, Gen. Christopher Musa, are at the burial.
Other dignitaries present include the Deputy Governor of Niger State, Yakubu Garba; the Chief of Army Staff, Lt.-Gen. Taoreed Lagbaja; Chief of Naval Staff, Emmanuel Ogalla; families and relatives of the fallen heroes.