A Nigerian military jet crashed killing two crew in Niger republic while fighting against al-Qaeda-linked insurgents in northern Mali today.
Nigerian troops are the largest among the West African regional force in the country divided by militants in the north who were stopped from taking over the capital by French forces who started an armed campaign on January 11.
"The crashed plane is an Alpha jet supporting the mission in Mali but stationed in Niger," Nigerian Air Force spokesman, Air Commodore Yusuf Anas said adding that a probe has commenced to find out the actual cause of the incident which took place about 60 km west of Niger capital, Niamey.
In March last year, the Malian military toppled the government of President Amadou Toure and created a power vacuum that has encouraged terrorist groups like Ansar Dine and al-Qaeda to take over the northern region.
They enforce Islamic rules like amputations, floggings and force women to wear veil.
A humanitarian crisis has been created in northern Mali as result of the military campaign which will soon be taken over by United Nations-led forces.
