Four Cameroon anti-Boko Haram soldiers killed in helicopter crash

Four Cameroonian soldiers including a General died in a helicopter crash on Sunday while coordinating a combat operation against the Nigerian Islamist group Boko Haram.

The commander, General Jacob Kodji also died in the crash near Bogo, a village in the Far North region, while on an inspection mission, a top military official said.

“We have lost four men, including the General (Jacob Kodji)” and a colonel, a senior military official told AFP on condition of anonymity.

They died when the Cameroonian army helicopter crashed in the village, the source added without specifying the cause of the accident.

“They were on a mission in Waza Park (Far North) as part of an operation to fight Boko Haram,” he said.

The authorities confirmed that the General died with a Colonel and two pilots.

General Jacob Kodji was the commander of one of the operations launched by Cameroon against Boko Haram.

He was promoted to General in August 2015 by President Paul Biya. He is the first Cameroonian General to be killed in the fight against Boko Haram.