The Nigerian Air Force (NAF) on Monday denied the reports alleging the accidental killing of over 20 Nigerian Army personnel in an airstrike at Mainok in Borno State, saying the development is under investigation.
NAF stated this on Monday via its official Twitter handle, @NigAirForce.
While urging the public to disregard the reports, it stated that both the visuals and the reports being circulated were under investigation with a promise that the public would be updated on the incident.
According to the statement, “the attention of the @NigAirForce has been drawn to reports alleging ‘How NAF Killed over 20 Nigerian Army Personnel by Accident in Air Strike’ at Mainok which is about 55km to Maiduguri.
“The NAF wishes to state that visuals and reports being circulated are currently being investigated and the general public will be duly updated on the alleged incident.
“All inquiries should please be directed to the Office of the Director of Public Relations and Information, Headquarters Nigerian Air Force or forwarded to info@airforce.mil.ng.”
Tribune Online reports that it was alleged that men of the Nigerian Army on Sunday were mistakenly killed by an Air Force fighter jet trying to launch an attack against Boko Haram insurgents.
It was reported that the military officers who were reinforced from Ngandu village were on their way to Mainok, headquarters of the Kaga Local Government Area of Borno State which was under attack by the Islamic State West Africa Province (ISWAP).
Recall that terrorists on Sunday attacked a Nigerian Army location at 156 Battalion in the community, killing some personnel.
Credit: Nigerian Tribune