The SBM Intelligence has reported that over 300 civilians were killed by accidental airstrikes by the Nigeria Air Force (NAF) in five years.
According to a report released by the SBM Intelligence on Monday, February 6, with the title, ‘Chart of the Week: Nigeria Air Force Mishaps’, airstrikes that caused the death of over 300 people have been carried out by the Nigerian Air Force in pursuit of terrorists.
The report listed Borno, Niger, Yobe, Nasarawa, Zamfara, Kaduna and Katsina as the states affected by the accidental airstrikes.
According to the report, two neighbouring communities in Niger Republic and Lake Chad were also affected by NAF airstrikes in September 2021 and February 2022, respectively.
“At least 20 people said to be fishermen were killed in a NAF airstrike that occurred in Kwatar Daban Masara in Lake Chad.
“NAF airstrike targeting bandits killed seven children and wounded five others by mistake in Nachade Village, Niger Republic,” the report said.
The report further noted that the NAF failed to acknowledge the airstrikes.
“Since 2017, more than 300 people have been killed in airstrikes carried out by the Nigerian Air Force in pursuit of terrorists. Within the last two years, the instances of such ‘mistakes’ have soared, but sadly with limited acknowledgement from the Air Force. It has also failed to carry out comprehensive investigations and has not paid compensation to victims families. Late January’s airstrikes on herders in Nasarawa continued the pattern of impunity that has come to colour military operations in Nigeria,” the report said.
Among incidents listed in the report, IBM Intelligence noted that a Nigeria Air Force jet mistakenly bombed an Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs) camp near the Cameroonian border in Rann, Borno State, resulting in the death of at least 115 persons and more than 100 injured.
The report also noted that a total of 12 airstrikes were carried out within the last two years in the country.
Recall that the Nasarawa State Police Command is yet to identify those responsible for the airstrike that claimed the lives of more than 30 herders at the Nasarawa-Benue border.
“I can confirm that there was an airstrike at Kwateri village, Nasarawa/Benue border. Twenty-seven corpses were recovered. Security have been deployed to the area and investigation has since commenced. We are yet to know who carried out the airstrike,” spokesperson of the Command Ramhan Nansel said.
