Military helicopter goes missing while fighting Boko Haram in Nigeria

Source: Xinhua| 2019-01-04 01:44:07|Editor: yan
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ABUJA, Jan. 3 (Xinhua) -- Nigeria's military on Thursday confirmed a helicopter fighting terror group Boko Haram in the country's northeast region went missing while in combat late Wednesday.

The military helicopter was providing close air support to troops of 145 Battalion at Damasak in the northern state of Borno when it suddenly went missing, Ibikunle Daramola, spokesman for the air force, said in a statement.

According to Daramola, the helicopter's mission was part of the ongoing counterinsurgency operations in the troubled northeast region, where Boko Haram has been trying since 2009 to establish an Islamic state.

"Details of the cause of the crash are still scanty," he said.

Boko Haram has so far killed about 20,000 people and forcing the displacement of millions of others in the most populous African country.

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