The Defence Headquarters said on Friday that “lack of appropriate marking’’ caused the January 17 air strike by the Nigerian Air Force (NAF) that killed several Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs) in Rann, Borno State.
Rann is the headquarters of Kala Balge local government area of Borno State.
The Director of Defence Information, Maj.-Gen. John Enenche, who briefed journalists on the outcome of the Board of Inquiry set up on the incident, listed other causes of the incident.
He said the bombing was carried out because the location was not “reflected in the operational map as a humanitarian base.”
Enenche said: “The main reason that caused the unfortunate airstrike near the IDPs camp at Rann was lack of appropriate marking of the area near the camp where the IDPs were struck.
“Hitherto, people were not expected to amass at that location.
“The normal pattern for Boko Haram terrorists before attacking innocent civilians and troops is to amass.
“Hence, it appeared as a place that could equally be used for enemy activities.
“Thus, when mass movement was noticed through aerial satellite observation, it was taken for Boko Haram terrorists’ activity, which needed to be neutralised with speed.
“To avert future occurrence, all locations where humanitarian activities take place in the theatre of operation would be marked appropriately for ground and aerial identification in line with international best practices.’’
“The board also recommended that geographical and spatial coordinates of all areas of humanitarian activities within the theatre should be forwarded to the Theatre Command Headquarters.
“There should be timely and mandatory exchange of information between stakeholders, for all activities in the theatre of operation.”
NAN
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