26 troops in Nigeria killed by Bandits: military
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A deadly ambush on Nigerian security forces resulted in 26 fatalities, followed by a helicopter crash during a rescue operation.
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Members of the Nigerian security forces Lagos, Nigeria, Saturday, Feb. 25, 2023 (AP)
An ambush on Sunday evening in central Nigeria has left at least 26 members of the Nigerian security forces dead and eight wounded, AFP reported citing military sources.
Further compounding the tragic incident, an airforce helicopter conducting a rescue mission following the ambush crashed in the same area.
Nigeria has witnessed an alarming recurrence of attacks and kidnappings by bandits, particularly in the northwest and central regions.
The situation is indicative of the broader challenges faced by the African country, exacerbated by insufficient security measures and limited government presence that has allowed violence to persist.
Read more: Nigeria urges ECOWAS to strive for diplomatic solutions in Niger
It was reported last week that Nigerian opposition parties are pressuring the government to reconsider military action against neighboring Niger after ECOWAS, which Nigeria is a member-state of, had warned of military intervention to restore the ousted president.
Senators representing states in northern Nigeria - seven states of which collectively share around 1,500 km of borders with Niger - have urged against taking military steps until all other political options are exhausted.
Northern regions also share deep historical ties with southern Niger areas, including social, religious, and cultural relations, in addition to trade links and linguistic heritages.
Read more: ECOWAS defense chiefs prepare possible intervention plan in Niger
