At least 36 Nigerian soldiers were killed in the country’s northcentral region during an ambush by armed gangs and in the crash of a helicopter sent to the scene, the nation’s military said Thursday.
Residents told the Associated Press that the helicopter was shot down by the armed gangs in Niger state’s Wushishi district following clashes earlier in the week, echoing warnings from analysts about the growing might of the gunmen in the country’s hard-hit northern region.
Soldiers were conducting an offensive operation in Niger state on Monday when they were ambushed by the armed gangs, defence spokesman Maj. Gen. Edward Buba told reporters.
