A Nigerian Air Force fighter jet was said to have mistakenly bombed Buhari Community in Yunusari Local Government Area of Yobe State in the early hours of Wednesday, killing about 9 residents and injuring many.
The villagers, who sustained injuries, are now receiving medical attention at a government health facility in Geidam.
A resident, identified as Saleh Ibrahim, told newsmen that the jet shelled the village on Wednesday morning when the villagers were preparing to go to the weekly market in Geidam, a neighboring local government, 200 km from Damaturu.
Ibrahim said, “The villagers were already set to go to the market at Geidam early in the morning when, suddenly, the jet appeared from nowhere and started shelling the village.
“Instantly, three people died. The sound of gunshots scared the villagers and they ran for safety, but others sustained injuries as a result.
“Some of the injured were attempting to tend to the dead people when they also got hit by bullets from the jet.
“As of 5 pm on Wednesday, the number of dead people had risen to nine, while over 30 people sustained injuries and are receiving treatment at Geidam General Hospital,” Ibrahim disclosed.
He added, “Buhari village is in Yunusari local government, but Buhari village is closer to Geidam and the entire Yunusari local government doesn’t have facilities to attend to the injured victims.”
However, the Nigerian Air Force has denied reports linking one of its fighter jets to the bombing.
In a statement on Wednesday, NAF spokesman, Air Commodore Edward Gabkwet, said, “NAF last conducted a mission into Yobe State (not Yunusari LGA) on 5 September 2021 and it was an armed Recce. No bomb or missile was even expended.”
