OVER the years, Nigeria has recorded several accidental strikes by the Nigerian Air Force, killing innocent citizens across the country.
This newspaper’s investigations revealed that over 425 persons including children and women had been killed by military accidental bombings between September 2017 and 2023.
A report titled “Air Force Mishaps” by a research organisation that compiles and analyses data about happenings in the country (SBM Intelligence) in February 2023, revealed that over 300 civilians have been killed in accidental airstrikes by the NAF since 2017.
SBM said the airstrikes happened while the NAF was in pursuit of terrorists.
The report lamented that mishaps had increased in the last two years, adding that no compensation had been paid to victims’ families.
According to SBM Intelligence, the mistakes have increased in the last two years with little acknowledgment from the NAF.
It added that Niger, Yobe, Zamfara, Borno, Nasarawa, Kaduna, and Katsina are the worst-hit states in the country.
In this report, this newspaper highlights cases of NAF accidental strikes.
1. Kaduna Village Bombing Mishap
Recent of all is the Kaduna village bombing mishap where 85 villagers in Tudun Biri of the Igabi Local Government Area of Kaduna State are feared dead after a bomb was allegedly dropped by a military jet on Sunday.
Residents of the affected communities said they were celebrating Maulud, an Islamic event when the bombs were dropped by the military.
This development has, however, triggered both local and international condemnation.
Following the incident a mass burial was conducted for the victims while the Army claimed responsibility for dropping the bomb on the village.
The Chief of Army Staff, Lt. Gen. Taoreed Lagbaja, has, however, apologised to the relatives of victims of the accidental bombing.
Lagbaja also ordered an investigation into the incident, noting the probe would allow the service to avert such situations in the future.
2. Nasarawa-Benue, Niger Border Accidental Airstrike
In January 2023, The PUNCH reports that 37 people including 27 pastoralists were killed after the bomb exploded at the border linking Benue and Nasarawa states at the Doma local government area of Nasarawa State.
3. Niger State Bombing Mishap
In April 2022, a NAF fighter jet reportedly killed six children, when it fired a bomb targeted at terrorists in Kurebe village in Shiroro LGA of Niger State.
4. Katsina Bomb Blast
Also in June 2022, 13 residents were injured while one other died after a NAF fighter jet struck Kunkuna village in the Safana LGA of Katsina on July 7, 2022, among others.
5. Borno 2017 And 2020 Bomb Attacks
On January 17, 2017, about 52 people were killed while 120 others sustained injuries in an accidental airstrike on an Internally Displaced Persons camp in Rann, Borno State.
Also, on April 13, 2020, 17 people, including children, were killed after a NAF fighter jet bombed Sakotoku village in Damboa LGA of the State.