Military operational mistake on Boko Haram kill innocent civilians in Borno

By OKOSUN DENNIS

Lack of precision at enemy location led to the killing of dozens of civilians on Tuesday in Borno

National Daily learnt that the military had targeted Boko Haram location in the eastern part of the state but unfortunately, it turned out that it was a civilian location.

The theatre Commander, Operation Lafiya Dole, Maj. Gen Lucky Irabor while confirmed the incident but said that the military conducted an airstrike on a location where Boko Haram were reported to have gathered.

“We got information that Boko Haram terrorists were gathering somewhere in Kala Balge Local Government. We coordinate our air component and strike the location but somehow, some civilians were killed,” he said.

Gen Irabor disclosed that apart from some civilians, two humanitarian workers from the International Committee on Red Cross (ICRC) and Medicine Sans Frontiers (MSF) were wounded in the incident.

In addition, two soldiers were also wounded, noting that the wounded have been evacuated.

National Daily further gathered that the military was mute on whether it was it was an tactical or operational error or not.

Worried by the incident, the military could not immediately give the exact figure of causality killed in the airstrike, adding that the death of innocent person in the course of operation was rather disturbing to the military authority and the institution.

Meanwhile, President Muhammadu Buhari has received with deep 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.

He condoles with families of the dead, and wished the wounded divine succour, leading to full recovery.

While describing it as “regrettable operational mistake,” pleaded for calm, even as he prays God to grant repose to the souls of the dead.