– The death toll from the accidental air strike by the Nigerian Air Force has risen to 70
– Aid agencies indicate more people could die without urgent treatment
– Some other reports say almost 200 people are dead
A report by AFP indicates that the death toll from the accidental air strike by the Nigerian Air Force on Tuesday, January 17 has risen to 70.
The devastation from the attack
Another report by Sahara Reporters however claim the death toll has risen to 200.
Reacting to the incident, the secretary-general of the Norwegian Refugee Council, Jan Egeland, said: “Displacement camps are supposed to be safe havens for people fleeing war and conflict.
“It cannot become the new normal that ‘accidental’ attacks on camps sheltering the innocent are allowed to happen again and again in conflict zones.”
READ ALSO: IDPs bombing: It was an avoidable mistake – Minister of Defence
Victims of the tragedy
Major General Lucky Irabor, who heads the counter-insurgency operation tagged ‘Operation Lafiya Dole’ in the North east, said the air force jet had been told to target insurgents in the flash-point Kala-Balge area but hit Rann instead.
The aid workers were distributing food at the military-run camp housing tens of thousands of people when the incident occurred.
Local and international aid agencies have until recently been unable to get to Rann because of bad roads and insecurity in the remote region
One aid worker told AFP colleagues were “stunned” at what happened and suggested civilians were likely to have been caught up in previous bombing raids in the remote region.
“I’m sure it (the bombing in Rann) is an accident but why would they (the Nigerian military) bomb a place that they’re guarding?” the aid worker said on condition of anonymity.
READ ALSO: Reactions trail Air Force operational mistake in Rann, Borno state
Meanwhile, a federal government delegation has arrived Borno state to condone with the state governor, Kashim Shettima and the people of the state.
The FG delegation in a group photo with the governor
President Muhammadu Buhari had cancelled the Federal Executive Council meeting earlier today, January 18 because of the incident.
Serving chiefs and other members of the delegation
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