UPDATE: Three die in Adamawa military helicopter crash

The Defence Headquarters has confirmed the death of three crew members in a military helicopter crash on Thursday night.

The Defence authorities said in a statement posted on its official blog,  http://defenceinfo.mil.ng/, that the crash occurred by 10 Pm on Thursday around the Federal University of Technology Yola, Adamawa State.

It was stated that rescue workers worked throughout the night to preserve the wreckage of the aircraft and the crash scene.

“At about 2200hours yesterday November 13, 2014, a ground attack helicopter on an armed patrol crashed around the Federal University of Technology Yola, Adamawa State.

“The crew of three was lost in the ill-fated accident.

“Rescue party worked throughout the night to preserve the wreckage of the aircraft and scene of the accident for proper investigation to be carried out.  Further details would be made known later.” The statement read

However, a source who confided in our correspondent said that the aircraft, an M-1 35 helicopter, came  down at Sangere ‎in Girei Local Government Area of the state while on a mission to prevent insurgents advance to Yola.

The source said that the aircraft was deployed to halt the insurgents’ advance to Yola after they were dislodged by the military from Mubi on Thursday night.

It was stated that the aircraft ‎crashed about 10 Kilometres from the Adamawa State capital.

The Chief of Air Staff, Air Marshal Adesola Amosun,  had said during a recent forum at the University of Ibadan that the Air Force had made over 6000 successful missions in the operations area.

The missions involve airlift of troops and equipment, rotation of forces, evacuation of casualty, attack missions and surveillance operations and reconnaissance missions.