At least 20 soldiers have been feared killed in an aerial attack meant to neutralise Boko Haram/Islamic State West African Province (ISWAP).
The Nigerian Air Force through its official Twitter account said it was investigating visuals and reports being circulated.
It said: “The attention of the @NigAirForce has been drawn to reports alleging “How NAF killed over 20 Nigerian Army Personnel by Accident in Air Strike” at Mainok which is about 55km to Maiduguri. The NAF wishes to state that visuals and reports being circulated are currently being investigated and the general public will be duly updated on the alleged incident.
“All inquiries should please be directed to the Office of the Director of Public Relations and Information, Headquarters Nigerian Air Force or forwarded to info@airforce.mil.ng.”
The airstrike, according to a soldier, was carried out by the Nigerian Air Force (NAF) fighter jet which mistook the gun truck carrying the troops for terrorists.
The Nation learnt that the terrorists, who invaded Mainok, Borno State in a convoy of four MRAPs, a scorpion Armoured Personnel Carrier and several gun trucks, had disguised as friendly forces on Sunday night before dislodging troops of 156 Battalion and setting their camp ablaze.
Narrating how the aerial attack happened, a soldier in a 14-second video said they were shelled in error.
“The Boko Haram terrorists disguised in military uniform and gained access to the camp. They came in different groups and could not be counted. The Nigerian Army was pinned down, they requested reinforcement, the reinforcement got on their way only to get shelled by the Nigerian Airforce.
“The (reinforcement team) was coming from Ngandu when they were killed by the airstrike targeted at Boko Haram. The Boko Haram were dressed in military uniform and carried high calibre military weapons,” a source said.
Earlier, a message was sent out warning soldiers passing through Maiduguri to steer clear because the insurgents, disguised as military personnel, have taken over roadblocks and checkpoints.
“Any of our regular passing through Maiduguri should know that, at Mainok, it’s not soldiers that are at the checking point but Boko Haram because BH dislodged Mainok in the early hours of today (Sunday) and they remain at the camp and at the checking points,” the warning stated.
Lamenting the lack of adequate weapons to tackle insurgency, a soldier told The Nation that there was no way the terrorists won’t overrun the troops giving the armaments they deployed.
“I have been hearing that Boko Haram has heavy equipment but I saw it myself today. I saw it live. I saw Boko Haram with four MRAPS, APC and many gun trucks and weapons they are displaying. Imagine Boko Haram in a convoy with four MRAPS.
“Do you know what that means? It means we won’t even be able to get them with just our gun truck and if you set mine traps for them, they will walk over it. The worst that can happen is that their tyres will be burst but still they can drive the MRAPs still for at least 2km.
“Just imagine what the casualty will look like. Why are our people treating us this way?
“If they bought the weapons mentioned in that report and distribute them to locations, no Boko Haram will try us. But we continue to lose men out of our people’s greed. Why are they doing us like this?
“Many people have lost interest in this job because of this kind of senseless killings. A whole Commanding Officer was killed in today’s attack in Mainok. This week alone, Boko Haram has killed many, dislodged bases and entered towns,” the soldier lamented.
The Director, Army Public Relations, Brig.-Gen. Mohammed Yerima, in a statement, confirmed the killing on Sunday of one Officer and six soldiers during the operation to flush out terrorists in Mainok.