Approximately 425 persons, including children and women, had been reportedly killed by military accidental bombings between September 2017 and December 2023 according to PUNCH and PR Nigeria quoting a report by SBM Intelligence
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 had 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 acknowledgement from the NAF.It added that Niger, Yobe, Zamfara, Borno, Nasarawa, Kaduna, and Katsina are the worst-hit states in the country.
In January 2023, it was reported that 37 people, including 27 pastoralists were killed after a bomb exploded at the border linking Benue and Nasarawa States at the Doma local government area of Nasarawa State.
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. 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 State.
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.
The most recent of all is the Kaduna village bombing mishap, where 85 villagers in Tudun Biri of the Igabi Local Government Area of Kaduna State were 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.
The Nigerian Army has accepted responsibility, saying the bombing was done in error. This development has, however, triggered both local and international condemnation.
