ABUJA, Aug 14 (Reuters) - A Nigerian Air Force helicopter crashed in the north-central Nigerian state of Niger on Monday, with sources saying it had come under fire from armed bandits. The helicopter crashed near Chukuba village in the Shiroro local government area of the state, air force spokesperson Air Commodore Edward Gabkwet said. Niger state lies hundreds of kilometres southeast of Niamey, the capital of the country of Niger where a junta seized power in a coup last month. Two military sources said bandits fired at the helicopter which had been sent to evacuate victims of an attack on Sunday that killed at least 10 soldiers caught up in an ambush. Islamist group Boko Haram is also active in northern Nigeria alongside the Islamic State of West Africa, a regional affiliate of Islamic State.

Source: The North Africa Journal August 14, 2023 18:41 UTC