Abuja, Nigeria:
Seven men and women on board a military aircraft died in a crash on Sunday close to Nigeria’s capital Abuja, the country’s airforce spokesman mentioned.
The plane was scheduled to conduct a surveillance mission in connection with an operation to rescue dozens of men and women kidnapped from a college Wednesday in nearby Niger State.
Gunmen recognized locally as “bandits” killed a schoolboy and captured 42 men and women, such as 27 students, 3 teachers and relatives of college employees, officials mentioned, in the country’s most up-to-date mass kidnapping.
President Muhammadu Buhari ordered safety forces to cost-free the kidnap victims and the army and police mentioned they had been tracking the gang.
The plane that crashed Sunday “was scheduled to conduct surveillance missions over Niger State and its environs in connection with the concerted efforts to secure the release of the students/staff,” spokesman Ibikunle Daramola mentioned in a statement.
The result in of the accident is nonetheless unknown but officials mentioned the pilot had reported an engine failure.
The “Nigerian Air Force (NAF) Beechcraft KingAir B350i aircraft crashed while returning to the Abuja Airport after reporting engine failure,” Daramola mentioned.
“Sadly, all 7 personnel on board died in the crash,” he added.
Video posted to social media showed water cannon getting used to extinguish the flames at the scene, although a massive quantity of onlookers crowded about.
The airforce mentioned an investigation into the accident was underway.
Nigeria’s minister of aviation Sirika Hadi also confirmed the accident.
“We should remain calm & wait for the outcome of investigation by the military,” Hadi mentioned in a Tweet.
()