Defence Headquarters (DHQ), on Thursday, disclosed that three officers, 22 soldiers, two pilots and crew members were killed while seven were wounded in action during an ambush which resulted in a fire-fight with insurgents in Wushishi in Niger State, ThisDay reports.

The confrontation reportedly followed an ambush by insurgents which resulted in a fire-fight.

At a media briefing in Abuja, the Director, Defence Media Operations (DDMO) Maj Gen Edward Buba, said following the confrontation, an air force plane was deployed to evacuate 17 dead and seven wounded in action soldiers to Kaduna.

He affirmed that in the process of the evacuation operation, the plane crashed. He, however, debunked reports that the plane was shot down, stating that an investigation was ongoing to ascertain the cause of the crash.

He was quoted to have said: “I wish to on behalf of the Chief of Defence Staff, express my heartfelt condolences to the families and friends of officers and men who were killed in an ambush by terrorists and the fire-fight that ensued”.

“Three officers, 22 soldiers, two pilots and crew members died while seven were wounded in action.

“Casualty evacuation followed, while the operation was on return to Kaduna, the plane carrying 17 previously killed crashed. Seven wounded in action, two pilots and two crew members were killed”.