Buhari Regrets Accidental Bombing of Civilians in Borno

President Muhammadu Buhari has expressed regret at the accidental bombing of humanitarian workers and civilians in Borno state, on Tuesday.

The president described the incident as “a regrettable operational mistake”.

He promised that the federal government would lend a hand to the Borno state government in attending to the situation.

Special Adviser on Media to the president, Femi Adesina, disclosed this in a statement issued in Abuja.
The statement read:

“President Muhammadu Buhari has received with deep sadness and regret, the accidental bombing of a civilian community in Rann, Borno State, by the Nigerian air force, engaged in the final phase of mopping up insurgents in the north-east.

“President Buhari condoles with families of the dead, wishes the wounded divine succour, leading to full recovery, and sympathises with the Borno state government.

“The president pledges federal help for the state government in attending to ‘this regrettable operational mistake’, and pleads for calm, even as he prays God to grant repose to the souls of the dead.”

Theatre commander of Operation Lafiya Dole, Maj. Gen. Lucky Irabor, who disclosed the incident to journalists in Miduguri, on Tuesday, did not give the number of casualties, but aid agencies said no fewer than 50 civilians, including aid workers, died.

Médecins Sans Frontières (MSF), one of the humanitarian non-governmental organisations whose workers were killed in the accident, condemned the attack and implored the military to immediately facilitate the evacuation and treatment of survivors.