Scores are feared dead after a Nigerian military plane mistakenly bombed the Rann IDP camp, in Kala-balge Local Government Area Borno State, where thousands of people displaced by Boko Haram are sheltered.
Military spokesperson, Brig. Gen. Rabe Abubakar confirmed the incident, saying it was a mistake the military deeply regrets.
Over a hundred people were wounded and needed urgent medical care. Not less than three people are feared dead. Those injured included officials of the Doctors Without Borders, MSF.
Abubakar said soldiers got intelligence about movement of Boko Haram members and had deployed ground troops and air cover to smoke them out. The air support mistakenly dropped the bomb, he said.
An International Red Cross, ICRC, helicopter has been deployed to the camp to evacuated the injured to the hospitals. Meanwhile, the Borno State Government has asked all hospitals in Maiduguri to be prepared to receive and promptly treat the injured.
The Theatre Commander of Nigerian forces in Borno, Lucky Irabor, a major general, also confirmed the unfortunate incidence 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.
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