Nigerian Air Force Reacts as Reports Claim Its Airstrikes Mistakenly Killed Over 20 Soldiers in Borno
- The Nigerian Air Force says it is investigating an alleged accidental bombing of the ground troops fighting Boko Haram in Borno
- A media report had claimed that the force's fighter jet mistakenly killed the soldiers while targeting insurgents
- The air force promised to update the members of the public after concluding its investigations
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The Nigerian Air Force (NAF) has reacted to media reports claiming that its airstrikes accidentally killed over 20 soldiers at Mainok town in Borno state.
The Cable had reported that some soldiers were killed after a fighter jet belonging to the Nigerian Air Force accidentally fired a bomb on the ground troops in Mainok.
The newspaper cited anonymous military sources as saying that the air force “accidentally” hit the wrong coordinates while targeting Boko Haram insurgents.
Source: Getty Images
Reacting via statement sighted by Legit.ng on Twitter on Monday, April 26, the NAF said it is currently investigating the incident.
The force promised to update the public on the alleged incident, adding that any inquiry should be directed to the Office of the Director of Public Relations and Information, Headquarters Nigerian Air Force.
The statement reads:
"The attention of the @NigAirForce has been drawn to reports alleging “How NAF Killed over 20 Nigerian Army Personnel by Accident in Air Strike" at Mainok which is about 55km to Maiduguri.
"The NAF wishes to state that visuals and reports being circulated are currently being investigated and the general public will be duly updated on the alleged incident."
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Earlier, Legit.ng reported that a commander of one of the Nigerian Army’s battalions fighting insurgency in the northeast was feared killed following an attack on a military base in Mainok, Borno state, by Boko Haram insurgents on Sunday, April 25.
The commander whose name was not disclosed was a lieutenant colonel. Thirteen soldiers were also said to have been killed in the attack.
It was learnt that the soldiers first engaged the insurgents but were later overpowered.
In another report, the Nigerian Air Force has eliminated top leaders of the Islamic State of West Africa Province (ISWAP) and scores of their fighters in Borno state.
The brutal and precision-guided airstrikes were conducted by the Air Task Force Operation Lafiya Dole.
The airstrikes targeted three major ISWAP hideouts at Kusuma, Sigir in Ngala, and Arijallamari in Abadam local government areas of Borno state.
Source: Legit.ng
