Nigeria have opened an investigation into the alleged airstrikes in the border village of Nachadé in the Maradi region, Niger Republic, on Friday in which seven children were among the 12 killed and five children were wounded.
Director of Defence Information, Major General Jimmy Akpor said on Sunday night while saying that Defence Headquarters have ordered a probe into the alleged incident, said “as a matter of policy, the Nigerian Air Force does not make any incursions into areas outside Nigeria’s territorial boundaries. That’s our policy.”
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.