A Nigerian Army fighter jet has killed dozens of Internally Displaced Persons in their camp in Borno state.
“A military jet mistakenly bombarded Rann,” in Borno state, Abba Abiso, an eye witness told AFP, adding that “at least 25 people were killed and many more injured”.
Amother resident however said 120 were wounded while 50 IDPs were killed.
The Army said a fighter jet had misfired and shot some humanitarian aid workers of the International Committee of Red Cross and the Medicines Sans Frontiers, and some civilians in Kala Balge in Borno during an operation.
The Theatre Commander of Operation Lafiya Dole, Maj.-Gen. Lucky Irabor, on Tuesday in Maiduguri said, “This morning, we received a report about the gathering of Boko Haram terrorists around Kala Balge area of Maiduguri.
“I coordinated and I directed that the air component of the operation should go and address the problem.
“Unfortunately, the strike was conducted but it turned out that other civilians were somewhere around the area and they were affected.
“So far, it is a little bit disturbing; death has occurred. There are casualties; there were deaths and injuries but on the actual number of casualties, we would get back to you later.
“I am yet to get the number of casualties of civilians killed, but two soldiers were also affected.
“Some humanitarian staff of Medicines Sans Frontiers and some staff of International Committee of Red Cross were also affected.
“We are sending helicopters to evacuate those that were critically wounded, including our wounded soldiers.”
In a reaction, President Muhammadu Buhari has said he received with sadness and regret, the accidental bombing of a civilian community in Rann, Borno State, by the Nigerian Air Force, engaged in the final phase of mopping up insurgents in the North-east.
According to a statement by his spokesman, Femi Adesina, President Muhamadu Buhari condoled with families of the dead and wished the wounded a quick recovery.
He pledged federal help for the state government in attending to “this regrettable operational mistake,” and pleads for calm, even as he prays God to grant repose to the souls of the dead.
