Nigeria’s Defence Minister, Major General Bashir Magashi (rtd) will Monday travel to Niger Republic capital, Niamey for a scheduled official trip to the country.
The trip is coming amid a row over Nigerian airstrikes in the border village of Nachadé in the Maradi region, Niger Republic, on Friday in which seven children were among the 12 killed.
Though the Minister’s trip was earlier scheduled before the Friday incident, sources confirmed that it would be part of the discussions.
Governor of Maradi region, Niger Republic, Chaibou Aboubacar, who first broke the news, did not say how he knew that Nigerian forces carried out the attack but Niger Republic’s State television said it was carried out by Nigerian forces without providing evidence.
Medical charity, Medecins Sans Frontieres (MSF), which cared for some of the wounded, confirmed the airstrike, said 12 people died, including four children.
Local inhabitants told MSF that Nigerian forces were pursuing terrorists’ targets who had fled into the border town.
The area where the alleged airstrikes occurred is a region where terrorism and banditry is prevalent and where both Nigerian and Nigerien governments fear that Islamist terrorists linked to Islamic State are gaining ground.
Meanwhile, Nigeria has launched a “painstaking investigation” into the incident.
According to a source, “Nigeria is conducting very painstaking investigations into the incident. This is because of the very close diplomatic and security partnership between both countries. We want to get to the root of the incident and if there was any infringements, we will make sure it does not occur again between the two brotherly nations.”
