Officer injured as Boko Haram shoots air force jet in Borno

Boko Haram insurgents attacked a helicopter belong to the Nigerian Air Force (NAF) in Borno state on Wednesday.

According to Ayodele Famuyiwa, spokesman of the force, the helicopter the incident happened at Gwoza.

Famuyiwa said the aircraft was conveying personnel on medical outreach programme from Maiduguri to Gwoza, when it came under attack.

He said the insurgents shot the Mi-17 helicopter, but that there was no casualty except for an airman that sustained bullet wound.

“Nevertheless, the pilot was able to fly the helicopter safely to and from its destination to enable the outreach programme continue uninterrupted,” Famuyiwa said.

“Following the attack, the NAF immediately scrambled a fighter aircraft and helicopter gunship to the location between Bama and Gwoza to neutralise the threat.

“Intelligent report by ground troops confirmed scores of BHTs were killed, signifying that the air attack on the threat location was successful.”

He said the force had been conducting medical outreach in the north-east as part of its humanitarian support to internally displaced persons (IDPs).