We got a heart breaking report that the Nigerian military fighter jet accidentally fired some civilians and humanitarian aid workers during an operation in Kala Balge, Borno State.


The Theatre Commander of Operation Lafiya Dole, Maj. Gen. Lucky Irabor, has this to say in a statement…. Read below

“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.”

Meanwhile, it has been reported that at least 120 people were wounded and 52 killed in the aerial bombing including ten humanitarian Aid workers with Red Cross and MSF International. This information came after the military had cleared the scene and taken census.

President Buhari condoles with families of the dead, wishes the wounded divine succour, leading to full recovery, and sympathizes with the Borno State government.

The President pledges 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.