About 17 people including children have been killed after a fighter jet belonging to the Nigerian Airforce bombed their village in Borno.
According to a report by the Cable, the Airforce jet attacked Sakotoku village in Damboa local government Borno State with the belief that Boko Haram Terrorists were gathered nearby.
Women and children made a significant part of the civilian casualty as they were playing under Mango trees when the NAF Jet attacked.
It was gathered that Boko Haram Terrorists has been sighted nearby and the Nigerian Airforce was duly informed.
The supposed target however was not Sakotoku but another village 12 miles away, Korongilum.
A military source who spoke anonymously said it was unclear if the wrong coordinates was given to the Jet pilot by ground troops.
“We don’t know if they didn’t communicate well with the land troops as the air force jet fired that bomb on the village.
“Seventeen people were killed, mostly women and their children playing under mango trees. Many were also injured and have been taken to the 25 army brigade in Damboa, and those with critical injuries were taken to Maiduguri.”
It was also gathered that some other villagers whose houses were destroyed in the attack have made their way to Damboa.
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Back in February, the residents of the intended target village, Korongilum as well as Garkida village in Adamawa state had accused the NAF of refusing to attack insurgents in their communities.
The NAF however said at the time that the insurgents were not attacked because of the fear of civilians being caught in the line of fire.
An accidental attack on Rann in Borno state by the Airforce had killed 126 civilians in 2017.
Source:herald.ng
