Air Force admits bombing Yobe civilians in error, commences investigation

 

.As Gov. commiserates with families of victims

. CAN accuses Gumi of promoting banditry in North

 .Says terrorism won’t end with Almajiri phenomenon

.Gunmen kill popular Imo lawyer

 

The Nigerian Air Force (NAF) on Thursday admitted that one of its fighter jets “unfortunately” bombed civilians in Yobe State on Wednesday.

 

NAF, in a statement issued on Thursday by its Director of Public Relations and Information, Edward Gabkwet, said an investigation into the incident has commenced.

 

Reports have it that residents of Buhari community, in the Yunusari local government area of Yobe on Wednesday claimed a NAF fighter jet on aerial bombardment killed nine people in the area while several other villagers sustained injuries.

 

According to a resident, Abubakar Suleiman, “ When shots were fired from the aircraft, people ran helter-skelter. Sadly, some were killed while others sustained injuries. More than 20 people, including, old men, women and children were being treated at Gaidam General Hospital.” He added that those with serious injuries were referred to Specialist Hospital, Damaturu for treatment.

The Air Force had on Wednesday denied reports linking its fighter jets to the bombing. Gabkwet had explained that the mission last conducted by NAF in Yobe was earlier in the month

 

“NAF last conducted a mission into Yobe State (not Yunusari LGA) on 5 September 2021 and it was an armed Recce. No bomb or missile was even expended,” he had said.

 

However, admitting the “unfortunate bombing” in a statement on Thursday, NAF said the “initial release denying the involvement of NAF aircraft was based on the first report available” at the time.

 

Gabkwet said the location of the incident was a notorious lair for terrorists and “well known for continuous Boko Haram/ISWAP activities.”

 

The statement read, “Following intelligence on Boko Haram/ISWAP movements along the Kamadougou Yobe River line, an aircraft from the Air Component of Operation Hadin Kai was detailed to respond to the suspected terrorist activities in the area along the Nigeria/Niger border at about 0600hrs on 15 September 2021.

 

“The aircraft while operating South of Kanama observed suspicious movement consistent with Boko Haram terrorist behaviour whenever a jet aircraft is overhead. Accordingly, the pilot fired some probing shots. It is important to state that the area is well known for continuous Boko Haram /ISWAP activities.

 

“Unfortunately reports reaching Nigerian Air Force Headquarters alleged that some civilians were erroneously killed while others were injured.

 

“Initial release denying the involvement of NAF aircraft was based on the first report available to the Air Component which was subsequently forwarded to NAF headquarters that civilians were bombed as the aircraft detailed for the mission was not carrying bombs.

 

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

The Governor of Yobe State, Mai Mala-Buni, has commiserated with the families of those who lost their lives on Wednesday when a military fighter jet involved in the counter-insurgency operation in the North-East bombed a village in the Yunusari Local Government Area of state.

This is coming hours after the Nigerian Air Force swiftly issued a statement claiming the bombing did not occur but later recanted.

 

NAF spokesman, Air Commodore Edward Gabkwet had claimed that the agency last conducted a mission in Yobe State earlier in the month.

 

He said, “NAF last conducted a mission into Yobe State (Not Yunusari LGA) on 5 September 2021 and it was an armed recce. No bomb or missile was even expended”.

 

But the Buni contradicted the military in a condolence message issued on Thursday by the State Director-General of Press and Media Affairs, Alhaji Mamman Mohammed.

 

Buni also directed government hospitals in Geidam and Damaturu to offer free medical services to those who sustained injuries during the air strike.

 

He directed his Special Adviser on Security Affairs, Gen. Dahiru Abdulsalan (rtd.) to liaise with the Nigeria Air force and the Multi-National Joint Task Force to identify the root cause of the strike.

 

He said, “Government will work closely with the security forces, especially the Nigeria Air Force, to establish what actually happened. This is very important and necessary for us to guard against future occurrences and to safeguard the lives of our people.”

 

Buni reiterated the commitment of the state government to cooperate with all security agencies to ensure the safety of the people.

 

A military fighter jet targeting Boko Haram accidentally on Wednesday bombed Buwari community.

 

The community is located 20 kilometres away from Kannamma, the headquarters of Yunusari Local Government Area of Yobe state.

 

Villagers in the past have reported some civilian casualties in near-daily bombardments in North Eastern Nigeria.

 

Recently, a military jet that came to repel an attack by Boko Haram dropped a bomb that landed in a compound where civilians were holding a naming ceremony.

 

A fighter jet also on a mission against Boko Haram extremists in April, 2021 mistakenly bombed men of the Nigerian Army, killing over 20 officers.

 

 

The soldiers who were reinforced from Ngandu village were said to be on their way to Mainok, headquarters of the Kaga Local Government Area of Borno state which was under attack by militants from the Islamic State-backed faction of Boko Haram, the Islamic State West Africa Province (ISWAP), formerly known as Jamā’at Ahl as-Sunnah lid-Da’wah wa’l-Jihād.

 

CAN accuses Gumi of promoting banditry in North

.Says terrorism won’t end with Almajiri phenomenon

 

The Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN) on Thursday warned that the security challenges and banditry in the Northern region would not end soon as the Almajiri phenomenon continue unchecked.

 

According to CAN, since the government had allowed insecurity to continue, it would consume the nation.

 

The chairman of CAN in Imo State, Rev. Dr. Eches Divine Eches, stated these in an interview with journalists in Abuja ahead of its 45th anniversary and Founder’s Day scheduled for Friday (today) in Owerri.

 

According to him, the government should caution popular Islamic cleric, Ahmed Gumi whose utterances, he said, have been promoting banditry in the Northern region.

 

Eches said the programme was necessary in remembering the labour of past heroes, including over 250 retired church leaders and indigent youth and women across the 27 LGAs in Imo State, who were weak and retired.

 

“I want to also give kudos to His Excellency, the Executive Governor of Imo State, Senator Hope Uzodinma, who in his magnanimity provided and partnered with the church for the resources to get this done.

 

“They laboured to bring to bear what we are enjoying and working on today. We thought it very necessary to remember the weak among us as most of them are passing through terrible times, especially in such a time as this in our nation

 

“So, we thought it very important that we will use this 45th anniversary of our Founders’ Day to celebrate such a people and remember their labours, and say to them ‘you deserve to be celebrated’ both by cash and gift”, he said.

 

He warned that except drastic measures were put in place to curtail Almajiri phenomenon, banditry would remain in Northern Nigeria.

 

He said, “You can’t have Almajiri system of life and government in the last 40 years in our nation bringing up people without any trace to families, hometowns or nationalities. They are scattered all over the street, without you knowing that someday they will leave the street and go to the bush where they will begin to do the trade of kidnapping.

 

“You can’t, in a sane nation, have the likes of Gumi, a religious scholar, going about promoting banditry and you don’t think that this will continue. Yet, that is what we are seeing today. We are not seeing anything more than what we have planted.

 

“We allowed this thing (insecurity) to continue and it is now going to consume the nation, if drastic measures are not put in place to take them (Almajiri) out of the streets. Give them a sense of belonging, put them in school, and help them realize their potentials.

 

“These bandits were the Almajiri who used to be in front of our houses and begging.

 

“We are praying and that is why God is still sustaining our nation. I trust God will continue to sustain us in Jesus name.”

Gunmen kills lawyer in Imo

 

VICTOR DURUAMAKU,-Owerri

An unidentified gunmen Wednesday shot and kill a promising young man and lawyer in Okporo  Orlu in Orlu Local Government of Imo State.

 

According to report the lawyer which name was given as Omekannaya, was said to have trailed from a supermarket where he was shot on the chest at close range by the gunmen.

 

The incident which was said have  occurred around 6pm that day, caused pandemonium among the people around the  area who scampered for safety.

 

The sad incident however attracted the sympathy and intervention of some locals who quickly mobilized themselves and rushed him to the state University Teaching Hospital, Umunna Orlu for urgent medical attention.

 

The victim was taken to a nearby hospital but died before they could take him to the said hospital in the area.

 

However, all efforts to get in touch with the state chairman of Nigeria Bar Association(NBA), Barr. Jude Ogamba for reaction failed but the Police Public Relations Officer PPRO CSP Michael Abattam confirmed the incident in a telephone chat and said that the police is working seriously to get details of the incident for necessary action.