Nigerian air force says it may have killed civilians

The Nigerian Air Force said yesterday it may have killed and wounded civilians while pursuing suspected Islamist insurgents in the northeast state of Yobe, in an incident that residents said left at least six people dead.

Nigeria’s northeast is the hotbed of two Islamist insurgencies — Boko Haram and the Islamic State’s West African branch, which split from the former group in 2016.

An air force spokesperson said a fighter jet responded to intelligence on movements of suspected insurgents from either group on Wednesday and fired some probing shots, killing and wounding civilians in the process.

Air Commodore Edward Gabkwet did not give numbers.

“Unfortunately, reports reaching Nigerian Air Force headquarters alleged that some civilians were erroneously killed while others were injured,” he said in a statement.

“Therefore, a board of inquiry has been set up to thoroughly investigate the circumstances of the incident.”

Three residents in Yobe’s Yunasari local government area said the air force jet had flown over the village on Wednesday morning before there were explosions.

“We saw it hovering around the village and suddenly we heard two loud bangs,” resident Ibrahim Goni said by phone. One resident said he had lost four of his relatives while another said his mother and niece had died in the incident.

At least 45 people had been wounded and were taken to Gaidam General Hospital in Yobe, the three residents said.

Nigeria’s war with Boko Haram and the Islamic State’s West African branch has spawned one of the world’s worst humanitarian crises, with millions of people dependent on aid.