At least 50 Nigerians have been confirmed dead and hundreds more reportedly injured as the Nigerian Air Force mistakenly dropped a bomb on poor and vulnerable citizens seeking shelter from incessant Boko Haram attacks at an Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs) camp in Borno state.
The unfortunate incident which was first reported by online publication, Premium Times, has been confirmed by military spokesperson, Brig General Rabe Abubakar,
Abubakar said the accident occurred after intelligence reports received by military commanders suggesting Boko Haram terrorists were moving casued ground troops and air cover to be deployed. One of the military planes reportedly mistakenly dropped the bombs that has caused more hardship to the already embattled IDPs.
The Theatre Commander of Nigerian forces in Borno, Lucky Irabor, a major general, also confirmed the attack at a press conference.
“This morning today, we received reports about gathering of Boko Haram terrorists somewhere in Kala Balge Local Government area of Borno State. We got a coordinate and I directed that the air should go to address the problem.
“Unfortunately the strike was conducted but it turned out that the locals somewhere in Rann were affected.
“We are yet to get the details of the casualties. But we have some civilians that have been killed, others are wounded and we also have two of our soldiers that were also wounded. Among some that are wounded are local staffs of the Medicine Sans Frontiers as well as ICRC,” he said.