Nigerian air force launches investigation on accidental airstrike

The Nigerian air force on Thursday said it has launched an investigation into an accidental air strike by a fighter jet which killed scores of civilians at a refugee camp early this week in the northeastern state of Borno.

Air force spokesman Ayodele Famuyiwa said the investigation was in view of preventing the future occurrence and to determine the immediate and remote causes as well as the circumstances that led to the tragic incident.

About 43,000 internally displaced persons struggling with serious food shortages and severe malnutrition were taking refuge at the Rann camp which was mistakenly bombed by the Nigerian fighter jet in an anti-terror raid on Tuesday.

At least 52 people lost their lives and 120 others were injured in the bombing which the Nigerian military had since admitted as an "operational error."

The incident occurred after an intelligence report was received that Boko Haram terrorists were regrouping in the town where the internally displaced persons' camp is situated, the Nigerian Army said.

The air force has constituted a board of senior officers to investigate the accidental airstrike, in addition to a list of 20 witnesses given to it. The team of investigators has been given a free hand to invite other persons to give evidence on oath, Famuyiwa said, adding the report of the investigation will be submitted on or before Feb. 2.

In its reaction to the incident on Wednesday, the Nigerian Senate had advised the nation's military to as much as possible apply caution in its future military exercise. Endit