A spokesman told CNN that the aircraft was under surveillance operations in the state of Niger as part of efforts to rescue at least 42 school children and staff taken by armed men from the Kagara Government School of Science last Wednesday. . One student died during the attack.
Air Force Deputy Marshal Ibikunle Daramola told CNN on Monday afternoon that the Air Force had donated the military aircraft to a joint task force that coordinates the rescue operation in Kagara.
“The rescue effort is being coordinated by a team from several agencies … the crashed aircraft was part of the Air Force’s contribution to the rescue mission,” he added.
Daramola told CNN that the air force would continue to support the rescue operation.
He added that all staff families were informed and an investigation was launched.
The ongoing rescue efforts followed a directive from President Muhammadu Buhari to the armed forces and the police to ensure that all prisoners were rescued.