Air Force sets up board to probe Rann error bombing; IBB sends condolence message

As the Nigerian Air Force, NAF, constitutes a board of senior officers to investigate the accidental air strike of an internally displaced persons, IDPs’ camp at Rann, Kale-Balge Local Government Area, Borno State, Tuesday, the House of Representatives, yesterday, denied that it resolved to investigate the accidental bombing.
One of those who survived the attack, Mallam Abubakar Modu, said there was no need to blame the Air Force for the strike as it was not deliberate.
Also yesterday, it was revealed that two deaths were recorded and five discharged from hospitals from the over 80 injured victims of the attack.
This is just as former Military President, General Ibrahim Babangida (retd.) and Governor Abubakar Bello of Niger State commiserated with the government and people of Borno State over the accidental bombing.

CAN
Meanwhile, the Christian Association of Nigeria, CAN, has thrown its weight behind call for investigation into the accidental air strike, describing it as a fatal blunder.
The association, while commiserating with the victims and the govern-ment of Borno State, urged the military authorities not to be discouraged in the ongoing war against Boko Haram insurgents in the North-East.
On the investigative board, the Navy Director of Public Relations & Information, Group Captain Ayodele Famuyiwa, in a statement, said constituting the board becomes necessary to forestall future occurrence.
He said: “This is with a view to forestall future occurrence. In addition to a list of 20 witnesses given to it, the Board is free to invite other persons to give evidence on oath. The Board is to submit its report not later than February 2.
“The six-man Board is headed by the Chief of Standards and Evaluation, Headquarters Nigerian Air Force, Air Vice Marshal Salihu Bala-Ribah. Other members are Air Vice Marshal Charles Oghomwen, Air Commodore Ayoola Jolasinmi, Group Captain Essien Efanga, Wing Commander Solomon Irmiya and Wing Commander Mohammed Muazu.

Reps
Meanwhile, the House of Representatives, yesterday, denied that it had resolved to investigate the accidental bombing of the IDPs’ camp in Rann, as there was no such decision taken in plenary.
Chairman, House Committee on Media & Publicity, Abdulrazak Namdas, said rather the House resolved to constitute a 10-member committee to visit the scene of the disaster and commiserate with bereaved families, the Federal and state governments, and Nigerians over the unfortunate incident.

Survivor speaks
Speaking with Vanguard on his State Specialist Hospital bed in Maiduguri, Mallam Modu, survivor, said: “The incident did not take place inside the camp, but a stone throw away; the place harbours thousands of displaced persons.
“To my understanding, there was a purported attempt by insurgents to wreak havoc on IDPs camp in Rann, and as the Air Force approached, it missed its targets by opening fire on us, who had left the camp for a nearby place.
“Normally, at times, we the IDPs alongside humanitarian aid workers do move out of the camp to go out and mingle with the people on the streets. I believe it was when the Air Force saw this great multitude of movement outside the camp, that it opened fire.”

Health Commissioner
Borno State Commissioner for Health, Dr. Haruna Mshelia, yesterday, disclosed that the State Specialist Hospital currently has 68 of the victims, after those initially hospitalised at the Military Hospital at 7th Division of the Nigerian Army were all moved to the State Specialist Hospital.
He noted that five victims are at the University of Maiduguri Teaching Hospital, making 73 persons.
The Commissioner said one victim died at the State Specialist Hospital, while the other died at the University of Maiduguri Teaching Hospital.
Dr. Mshelia, however, said 42 victims with minor injuries will remain in Rann, given the fact that medical teams from the MSF, the ICRC and the state government and other partners have enough capacity to handle them

IBB’s message
Meanwhile, former Military President, General Babangida, in his condolence message to the government and people of Borno State, and Nigerians described the incident as “fatal and regrettable.”
He, however, noted that sad as the situation was, ugly incidents happen in conflicts zones even among the most sophisticated military alliances, citing examples of “friendly fires” between the United States military and its allies in Afghanistan.