Rann: “236 Nigerians killed in accidental bombing” – presidential spokesperson
At least 236 people were killed after Nigeria’s military mistakenly bombed civilians in the country’s northeast.
While providing cover for soldiers who were targeting Boko Haram terrorists, the Nigerian Air Force (NAF) dropped three bombs on Rann in Borno State. President Muhammadu Buhari apologized to the nation saying the tragedy was a mistake, and then proceeded to London on a 10-day-medical leave.
Days after the bombing, the military is yet to release official figures of the dead and injured. Conflicting media reports put the death toll at 54, 65, 100, and 200 with over 120 injured.
Presidential spokesperson Garba Shehu, on Monday, mentioned a figure he said Nigerians should trust: 236 dead.
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He said local volunteers in Rann, Borno state, who put the number of deaths following the military airstrike there at 236, should be believed.
“As at Saturday (January 21), they put the figure at 236,” Shehu said on Channels TV.
Shehu’s comments came three days after Babagana Malarima, president of Kala-Balge government in Borno State where Rann is located, said in an interview on Saturday: “From what the people who buried the dead victims with their hands told me, not those who treated the wounded, they buried 234 dead.”
MSF, one of the humanitarian agencies that lost volunteers to the tragedy had put the death toll, citing local sources, at 170.
