By Rafiu Ajakaye

LAGOS, Nigeria

A Nigerian military helicopter on Monday crashed in northeastern region as it embarked on a counterinsurgency mission against Boko Haram militants, according to a military spokesman.

Olatokunbo Adesanya, spokesman for the Nigerian Air Force, said the crash resulted in ‘significant damage’ to the Mi-17 helicopter.

“There was, however, no loss of lives as a result of the incident. The Chief of the Air Staff, Air Marshal Sadique Abubakar, has immediately directed the constitution of a board of inquiry to determine the exact cause of the incident, in line with global best practices,” according to Adesanya, an Air Vice Marshal.

Air bombardments of Boko Haram hideouts have been a key to Nigeria’s counterinsurgency operations in the northeast, with hundreds of raids embarked upon in weeks to assist the land troops.