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Friday, November 14, 2014

Air Force Loses Helicopter to Crash As Boko Haram Mount Raids

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According to the Nigerian Air Force on Friday, it had lost another helicopter in the restive northeast, after Boko Haram rebels raided two more towns and vigilantes and hunters clawed back a key militant stronghold.


The second crash in a week happened late Thursday in Yola, the capital of Adamawa, which is one of three states that has been under emergency rule since May last year.


But there was no immediate indication that the armed Islamist movement was responsible for the crash.


a state governor’s office, told AFP.


The chopper crashed near a hall of residence at the Modibbo Adama University of Science and Technology causing panic among students, as weapons said to be on board apparently exploded.


"We heard a huge thundering sound which made us rush out of the hostels, thinking the school was under Boko Haram attack," said one student, Harisu Abdulaziz.


Another student said there was chaos as residents at the hostel tried to flee but were prevented by soldiers guarding the gates.


The university has been under military protection after a spate of Islamist attacks against schools in the region.


Kyari Mohammed, a lecturer at the university and a specialist in Boko Haram, said the helicopter that came down was one of two that flew over the campus.


"The crash was followed by a series of intermittent explosions inside the chopper, which people believed to be from weapons the chopper was ferrying," he said.


Air force spokesman Dele Alonge confirmed that one of its aircraft had crashed but provided no details as to the cause or casualties.


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