Nigerian President Bola Tinubu has paid tribute to soldiers who died after a helicopter crashed in the country’s north-western state of Niger on Monday.

It had been on a mission to evacuate soldiers following an ambush in the area where the army has been fighting armed groups.

It is not clear why the helicopter crashed.

The president said the “tragic loss of our officers and soldiers” had “brought immense sadness to me”.

In a statement, he said they would be remembered as “courageous men who did not consider the perils and dangers of their national duty as paramount to their sacred mandate of ensuring that their fellow countrymen and women can live in peace”.

Armed gangs are common across central and northern Nigeria where they rob and kidnap for ransom.

BBC