NAF’s Helicopter Crash: Villagers Flee Communities

In the wake of the MI 171 Airforce Helicopter crash on Monday in the Chukuba communities of Shiroro Local Government Area (LGA) in Niger State, residents are evacuating the villages in large numbers due to the substantial deployment of troops and equipment by the army.

Recall that the MI 171 Helicopter carrying casualties of bandits’ ambush of Soldiers in Zenguru, Wushishi LGA of the state, crashed in Chukuba, Shiroro LGA.

No fewer than 21 soldiers and officers were reportedly killed, while over 50 bandits were also eliminated in the in the Sunday ambush. 

The fleeing villagers who are predominantly, farmers and fishermen are said to be trooping to the neighbouring villages of Erena, Gwada and Zumba for safety. 

Chairman of Shiroro LGA, Akilu Ishaku, told Journalists that most residents of the communities were fleeing the area for safety and resettling in Erena, Zumba, and Gwada villages, saying “I received the information of the crash from the security operatives in the area, the village Head of Galkogo, and other stakeholders in the area where the incident occurred. But the report did not state exactly who the aircraft belonged to. The name of the village where the crash happened is Badna village under Kwaki Chukuba ward. The villagers claimed they saw flame from a distance and saw that it was a helicopter that was on fire.”

Sources in the area informed Vanguard that heavy military equipment and troop are now being deployed to the troubled communities of both Zungeru in Wushishi and Shiroro LGAs of the state.

The heavy presence of military personnel in these areas has created panic in the communities forcing the villagers to flee to safer areas and LGAs in the state.

“With this development, the farmers have again abandoned their ancestral homes to settle in strange lands where they cannot farm or fish. The implication is that this will be a serious threat to farming and expected bumper harvest from the area. The farmers and fishermen have vowed not to return to their villages without concrete assurances from government that they will be saved”, one of the fleeing villager, Abubakar Kuta said.

Meanwhile, Nigerian Army yesterday confirmed that some soldiers were killed by bandits in an ambush on Sunday night during an operation by troops to stop bandits’ attacks on communities in the area.

Responding to inquiries on the incident, the Director, Army Public Relations, Brigadier General Onyema Nwachukwu said, “I can confirm that there was an incident in Wushishi LG of Niger State. Our gallant patriots paid the supreme price when they ran into an ambush by insurgents.

“They were courageous till the end. They stood their ground and defended our great country with their lives. The focus now is how to console and bring respite to those they left behind.

“Sadly, the incident occurred while the Chief of Army Staff is on operational tour of the North West Operations theatre for on the spot assessment and reinvigoration of ongoing operations.

“He has currently headed to the affected formation to encourage the troops. This is my response to Correspondents’ inquiries on the Niger incident.”