A fighter jet of Nigeria's army has mistakenly bombed
refugees and aid workers linked to Doctors Without Borders and the
International Committee of the Red Cross during an operation against militant
Islamist group Boko Haram in north-eastern Borno state, the army has said.
There were deaths and injuries, but the exact number was
still unclear, Maj-Gen Lucky Irabor has been quoted by Vanguard newspaper.
“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(ICRC) were also affected. We are sending helicopters to
evacuate those that were critically wounded, including our wounded soldiers,”
Irabor said.
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