Military probes air strike error

The Nigerian Air Force (NAF) has constituted a board to investigate the accidental air strike of January 17 at Rann, Borno State.

It was learnt that among its terms of reference, the board was to determine the immediate and remote causes as well as the circumstances which led to the incident, with a view to forestalling future occurrence.

It was also gathered that in addition to a list of 20 witnesses given to it, the board was free to invite other persons to give evidence on oath and submit its report not later than February 2.

The six-man board has Chief of Standards and Evaluation, Headquarters Nigerian Air Force (HQ NAF), Air Vice Marshal Salihu Bala-Ribah, as its head and Air Vice Marshal Charles Oghomwen, Air Commodore Ayoola Jolasinmi, Group Captain Essien Efanga, Wing Commander Solomon Irmiya and Wing Commander Mohammed Muazu as members.

Meanwhile, contrary to widespread reports in many national dailies that the House of Representatives resolved on Thursday to investigate the bombing, the House has said there was no such decision taken at plenary.

In a statement signed by chairman, House Committee on Media and Publicity, Honourable Abdulrazak Namdas, this was sequel to a motion raised by Honourable Sani Zorro under a motion of urgent national importance which was debated extensively and passed by the House.

“It was resolved that: “The House should constitute a 10-member committee selected from Committees on Internally Displaced Persons ( IDPs), Refugees and Initiatives in the North-East Zone; Air Force, Emergency and Disaster Preparedness; Army and Healthcare Services, respectively, to among other things, visit the scene of the disaster and commiserate with bereaved families of the victims, federal and state governments and the entire people of Nigeria over the incident; ascertain the level of response of the emergency assistance needed by the surviving victims of the air strike and members of their immediate families; also ascertain the extent to which emergency and adequate health service are being extended to the surviving victims of the mishap and observe a one-minute silence in honour of the unfortunate victims of the disaster,” the statement read.

In a related devlopment, a former military president, General Ibrahim Babangida (IBB), has commiserated with the government and people of Borno State over the incident.

IBB, while extending his condolences to the government and people of Borno State in particular and Nigerians in general, described the incident as fatal and  regrettable.

General Babangida, who expressed concerns and sadness over the development, however, noted that similar incidents happened in conflicts zones across the world, even among the most sophisticated military alliances like cases of “friendly fires” between the United States military and its allies in Afghanistan.

He also commiserated with the people and especially the University of Maiduguri community and  the professional community over last Monday’s twin blasts.

He then urged the Military High Command in the fight against terrorism in the North-East to adopt precision attacks on enemy targets and introduce new tactics in the fight against Boko Haram.