Emmanuel Adeoye
A leading Nigeria geopolitical intelligence platform, SB MORGEN, also known as SB Morgen Intelligence, has reported that a total of 300 people have been accidentally killed since 2017 by the Nigeria Airforce in pursuit of terrorists.
Disclosing this via its official Twitter handle, SB Morgen Intelligence further faulted the Nigeria Airforce for the show of little concession, none compensation of victims families, and the lack of a comprehensive investigation into the situation which, according to them, had soared in the last two years.
“Within the last two years, the instances of such “mistakes” have soared, but sadly with limited acknowledgement from the airforce. 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.
“Among others, the event has seen the bombing of an Internally displaced Persons Camp in Borno state; airstrike killing of wedding guest and several children across several villages, and the killing of soldiers after a fighter jet hits a wrong coordinates while targeting Boko Haram insurgents.
“On 17 JANUARY, 2017
A Nigerian Air Force jet mistakenly bombed an internally displaced persons camp near the Cameronnian border in Rann, Borno State. They had believed it was a Boko Haram encampment. The bombing left at least 115 people dead, including six Red Cross aid workers and left more than 100 injured.
“In APRIL, 2020
At least 17 people, mostly women and their children playing under mango trees were said to have been killed when a fighter jet belonging to the Nigerian Air Force accidentally dropped a bomb on Sekotoku village in Damboa Local Government Area(LGA) of Borno State.
“In APRIL, 2021
Some soldiers were killed after a fighter jet belonging to the Nigerian Air Force shelled a military truck in Mainok, Borno State. The Air Force hit the wrong coordinates while targeting Boko Haram insurgents following calls for air support by the land troops. Sources told Daily Trust that 30 soldiers were killed in Mainok.
“JUNE, 2021
An offensive aerial bombardment of the NAF Alpha jet carried out around Genu town in Niger State resulted in the killing of some wedding guests.
“12 JULY, 2021
Airstrikes carried out by fighter jets of the Nigerian Air Force have killed a woman and her four children at Sububu, in Zamfara State. Sububu Forest is one of the major hideouts of bandits in Zamfara. There was suspicion that the jets used the GPS coordinates of some expensive smartphones stolen from Sokoto that were being charged at the village.
“In SEPTEMBER 2021
About 10 villagers were killed after a military jet bombed a village in the Yunusari Local Govemment Area of Yobe State. They took responsibility for the error after an initial denial.
“28 SEPTEMBER 2021
At least 20 people, said to be fishermen, were killed in a NAF airstrike that occurred in Kwatar Daban Masara in the Lake Chad.
“20 FEBRUARY 2022
NAF airstrike targeting bandits killed seven children and wounded five others by mistake in Nachade village, Niger Republic.
“3 MARCH, 2022
At least six children between the ages of five and 12 were killed by the NAF airstrike in the Kuregha community of the Shiroro Local Government Area of Niger State.
“7 JULY, 2022
Another 13 residents were wounded while one other died after NAF fighter jet struck Kunkuna village in Safana LGA of Katsina.
“19 DECEMBER, 2022
At last 64 persons were killed and many injured in an airstrike by the NAF, at Mutumji Community in the Maru Local Government Area of Zamfara State.
“13 DECEMBER, 2022
Properties of residents were destroyed in a miscalculated airstrike in Kaduna.
“24 JANUARY, 2023
An unspecified number of special hunters of the Joint Security Task Force have been killed an airstrike carried in Galadima Kogo in Shiroro local government area of Niger State. The Nation reported that the source of the helicopter that carried out the airstrike is still unknown. It was also gathered that the airstrike which led to pandemonium in the community, was carried while the All Progressive Congress(APC) was flagging-off its Niger East senatorial campaign in Suleja where most government officials were present.
“24 JANUARY, 2023
A Nigerian Air Force aerial operation left scores of civilians dead, people’s gazette reports citing.
The incident occurred in Rukubi, Nasarawa near the state’s southern border with Benue in Doma Local Government Area. At least 47 people, mainly Fulani pastoralists, were confirm killed while scores were evacuated to various hospitals in Nasarawa and Benue.” SB Morgen reveal.