Nigerian military mistakenly bombs refugee camp, dozens killed

A wounded child after an air force jet accidentally bombarded a camp for those displaced by Boko Haram Islamists, in Rann, northeast Nigeria. PHOTO | DOCTORS WITHOUT BORDERS (MSF) | AFP

The incident happened at about 9:00 am in Rann, in the far north of Borno state, the epicentre of the jihadists' insurgency, as aid workers distributed food to civilians who were forced to flee the violence.
A senior military source in the Borno state capital, Maiduguri, said the casualties were "huge", adding: "A fighter jet hit the wrong target."

Last month, the army said the conflict was in its final stages after nearly eight years of violence that has killed at least 20,000 and left more than 2.6 million others homeless.

Dozens of people were killed on Tuesday when an air force jet accidentally bombarded a camp in northeast Nigeria for those made homeless by Boko Haram Islamists.


The incident happened at about 9:00 am in Rann, in the far north of Borno state, the epicentre of the jihadists' insurgency, as aid workers distributed food to civilians who were forced to flee the violence.

A local resident, Abba Abiso, told AFP by telephone: "This morning a military jet mistakenly bombarded Rann, instead of (nearby) Kala.

"In recent weeks Boko Haram has moved base to Kala from Sambisa Forest and obviously a military jet mistook Rann for Kala and bombarded, killing many civilians.


"At least 25 were killed and many more injured."

Source: Daily Nation

Photo & Report By AFP