The Nigerian President, Bola Ahmed Tinubu has expressed sadness on the tragic loss of the gallant officers and soldiers in a helicopter crash at Chukuba Village near Shiroro, Niger State, on Monday.
In a statement signed by the President himself while reacting to the tragic loss, he said these officers and men were answering the call of duty while on an evacuation mission. “In their dedicated service to our beloved country, they paid the ultimate price”.
The statement reads: “The tragic loss of our gallant officers and soldiers in a helicopter crash at Chukuba Village near Shiroro, Niger State, yesterday, brought immense sadness to me.
“These officers and men were answering the call of duty while on an evacuation mission. In their dedicated service to our beloved country, they paid the ultimate price.
“While we mourn their untimely departure, we will forever remember them, not just as servicemen, but as national heroes who gave their all for the peace and security of our country.
“They will always be remembered as courageous men who did not consider the perils and dangers of their national duty as paramount to their sacred mandate of ensuring that their fellow countrymen and women can live in peace.
“We salute their sacrifice, devotion and loyalty to our dear nation – the nation they loved and served to the end.
“On behalf of a grateful nation, I extend my condolences to their families, the Chief of Defence Staff, the Chief of Air Staff, the Chief of Army Staff, the Chief of Naval Staff, and the entire Armed Forces of the Federal Republic of Nigeria”.
A Nigerian Air Force MI-171 Helicopter on a casualty evacuation mission was reported to have crashed yesterday at about 1.00pm near Chukuba Village in Niger State.
According to the statement released by the Airforce Spokesman stayed that the aircraft departed Zungeru Primary School enroute Kaduna but was later discovered to have crashed near Chukuba Village in Shiroro Local Government Area of Niger State.
He added that efforts was made to rescue the crew and passengers on board the helicopter and preliminary investigations have commenced to determine the probable cause of the crash.