By Ehi Ekhator
President Buhari has expressed regret over the accidental bombing of the Rann IDP camp in Borno State on Tuesday by the Nigerian military.
In a statement by the Special Adviser to the President on Media and Publicity, Mr. Garba Shehu, the President pledges federal help for the mistake.
Garba said “President Muhammadu Buhari has received with deep sadness and regret, the accidental bombing of a civilian community in Rann, Borno State, by the Nigerian Air Force, engaged in the final phase of mopping up insurgents in the North-east.
President Buhari condoles with families of the dead, wishes the wounded divine succour, leading to full recovery, and sympathizes with the Borno State government.
The President pledges federal help for the state government in attending to “this regrettable operational mistake,” and pleads for calm, even as he prays God to grant repose to the souls of the dead.
The so far peaceful camp was thrown into chaos after the Nigerian military jet mistakenly drop bomb inside the camp leaving at least two dead and over 100 injured.
According to the the military spokesperson, Rabe Abubakar, a brigadier general, who confirmed the incident, said it was a grave mistake that is highly regrettable.
He explained that the incident took place after the soldiers got a tip about Boko Haram movement that ground and air forces were deployed.
The Threatre Commander of Nigerian forces, a major general in Borno, Lucky Irabor who also confirmed the attack said “This morning today, we received reports about gathering of Boko Haram terrorists somewhere in Kala Balge Local Government area of Borno State. We got a coordinate and I directed that the air should go to address the problem.
“Unfortunately the strike was conducted but it turned out that the locals somewhere in Rann were affected.
“We are yet to get the details of the casualties. But we have some civilians that have been killed, others are wounded and we also have two of our soldiers that were also wounded. Among some that are wounded are local staffs of the Medicine Sans Frontiers as well as ICRC,” he said.
