Nigerian Air Force fighter jet on a mission against Boko Haram extremists mistakenly bombed a refugee camp Tuesday, killing more than 100 refugees and wounding aid workers, a Borno state official said.
The state government official, who was helping to coordinate the evacuation of wounded from the remote area by helicopters, spoke to The Associated Press on condition of anonymity because he was not authorised to speak to reporters, confirmed the number of wounded/ dead civilians.
The Theatre Commander of Operation Lafiya Dole, Maj. Gen. Lucky Irabor, who disclosed this during a press briefing on Tuesday in Maiduguri, said soldiers got information of movement of Boko Haram members and deployed ground troops and air cover to tackle the terrorists.
“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.”
At least 120 people were wounded and 52 killed in the aerial bombing including ten humanitarian Aid workers with Red Cross and MSF International.