September 15 in History: A Nigerian Air Force airstrike accidentally killed nine civilians in Yunusari, Yobe

On September 15, 2021, a Nigerian Air Force fighter jet opened fire on Buhari village in Yunusari Local Government Area of Yobe State and killed nine civilians and injured more than 20.

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According to authorities, the attack happened around 6:00am as residents were preparing to travel to the weekly market in Geidam, a neighboring LGA about 200km from Damaturu.

Eyewitnesses said the jet appeared suddenly and began shelling the village. Resident Saleh Ibrahim told newsmen the community was already set for the market when the aircraft came “from nowhere.”

“Instantly, three people died… As of 5 pm on Wednesday, the number of dead people had risen to nine, while over 30 people sustained injuries and are receiving treatment at Geidam General Hospital,” he said.

The Yobe State Emergency Management Agency later confirmed nine people dead and 23 injured. Two of the critically injured were transferred to Yobe State University Teaching Hospital in Damaturu.

In a statement on Thursday, NAF Director of Public Relations, Air Commodore Edward Gabkwet, said the aircraft was deployed following “intelligence on Boko Haram/ISWAP movements along the Kamadougou Yobe River line.”

“The aircraft while operating south of Kanama observed suspicious movement consistent with Boko Haram terrorists behaviour… Accordingly, the pilot fired some probing shots,” the statement read.

Gabkwet added that “reports reaching NAF headquarters alleged that some civilians were erroneously killed while others were injured,” and described the area as “well known for continuous Boko Haram/ISWAP activities.”

The Air Force initially denied involvement on Wednesday, but reversed its position the next day and admitted to the “unfortunate” incident. A board of inquiry was subsequently constituted “to thoroughly investigate the circumstances of the incident.”

Chief of Air Staff, Air Marshal Oladayo Amao, said on September 29 that the investigation was still ongoing and described it as a “very painstaking process.”

Yobe State Governor Mai Mala Buni commiserated with families of the victims and pledged to work with security agencies to “unravel the cause of the incident.”

He directed government hospitals in Geidam and Damaturu to provide free medical services to the injured. SEMA said the state had also provided food items and was taking inventory of affected households.

Local officials reportedly gave N10,000 each to injured victims and to families of the deceased as immediate relief.

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