<p>Seven people on board a military aircraft died in a crash on Sunday near Nigeria's capital Abuja, the country's airforce spokesman said.</p>.<p>The plane was scheduled to conduct a surveillance mission in connection with an operation to rescue dozens of people abducted from a school Wednesday in nearby Niger State.</p>.<p>Gunmen known locally as "bandits" killed a schoolboy and captured 42 people, including 27 students, three teachers and relatives of school staff, officials said, in the country's latest mass abduction.</p>.<p>President Muhammadu Buhari ordered security forces to free the kidnap victims and the army and police said they were tracking the gang.</p>.<p>The plane that crashed Sunday "was scheduled to conduct surveillance missions over Niger State and its environs in connection with the concerted efforts to secure the release of the students/staff," spokesman Ibikunle Daramola said in a statement.</p>.<p><strong><a href="https://www.deccanherald.com/international/jihadists-overrun-nigerian-army-base-as-residents-flee-953794.html" target="_blank">Read | Jihadists overrun Nigerian army base as residents flee</a></strong></p>.<p>The cause of the accident is still unknown but officials said the pilot had reported an engine failure.</p>.<p>The "Nigerian Air Force (NAF) Beechcraft KingAir B350i aircraft crashed while returning to the Abuja Airport after reporting engine failure," Daramola said.</p>.<p>"Sadly, all 7 personnel on board died in the crash," he added.</p>.<p>Video posted to social media showed water cannon being used to extinguish the flames at the scene, while a large number of onlookers crowded around.</p>.<p>The airforce said an investigation into the accident was underway.</p>.<p>Nigeria's minister of aviation Sirika Hadi also confirmed the accident.</p>.<p>"We should remain calm & wait for the outcome of investigation by the military," Hadi said in a Tweet.</p>
<p>Seven people on board a military aircraft died in a crash on Sunday near Nigeria's capital Abuja, the country's airforce spokesman said.</p>.<p>The plane was scheduled to conduct a surveillance mission in connection with an operation to rescue dozens of people abducted from a school Wednesday in nearby Niger State.</p>.<p>Gunmen known locally as "bandits" killed a schoolboy and captured 42 people, including 27 students, three teachers and relatives of school staff, officials said, in the country's latest mass abduction.</p>.<p>President Muhammadu Buhari ordered security forces to free the kidnap victims and the army and police said they were tracking the gang.</p>.<p>The plane that crashed Sunday "was scheduled to conduct surveillance missions over Niger State and its environs in connection with the concerted efforts to secure the release of the students/staff," spokesman Ibikunle Daramola said in a statement.</p>.<p><strong><a href="https://www.deccanherald.com/international/jihadists-overrun-nigerian-army-base-as-residents-flee-953794.html" target="_blank">Read | Jihadists overrun Nigerian army base as residents flee</a></strong></p>.<p>The cause of the accident is still unknown but officials said the pilot had reported an engine failure.</p>.<p>The "Nigerian Air Force (NAF) Beechcraft KingAir B350i aircraft crashed while returning to the Abuja Airport after reporting engine failure," Daramola said.</p>.<p>"Sadly, all 7 personnel on board died in the crash," he added.</p>.<p>Video posted to social media showed water cannon being used to extinguish the flames at the scene, while a large number of onlookers crowded around.</p>.<p>The airforce said an investigation into the accident was underway.</p>.<p>Nigeria's minister of aviation Sirika Hadi also confirmed the accident.</p>.<p>"We should remain calm & wait for the outcome of investigation by the military," Hadi said in a Tweet.</p>