By Olarewaju Kola 

MAIDUGURI, Nigeria

Five Nigerian Air Force personnel died when an Mi-35M gunship crashed Wednesday night during an operation against Boko Haram in the country’s volatile northeast region, the air force confirmed Thursday. 

The copter crashed in Damasak, a town along Lake Chad in the restive Borno State, while providing air support to ground troops, said Air Force spokesman Commodore Ibikunle Daramola in a statement.

He said the Nigeria nation and air force owe the late personnel -- including two pilots, a technician, and two gunners -- gratitude for their sacrifices to ensure security. 

He gave no reason for the crash, but two military sources, speaking on condition of anonymity due to restrictions on speaking to the media, told Anadolu Agency the helicopter "may have been shot down" by Boko Haram.  

Boko Haram violence started in the country's northeast in 2009, and over the last decade led to nearly 3 million people being displaced.