Botched Nigeria air strike kills many fishermen – report

Nigerian bombardment of Kwatar Daban Masara in the country's northeast leaves 20 fishermen dead, AFP news agency reports, citing local sources.

At least 20 fishermen have been killed accidently after Nigeria's military targeted a militant camp in the country's northeast, two security sources and locals told the AFP news agency.

A Nigerian fighter jet early on Sunday bombarded Kwatar Daban Masara in Lake Chad, which straddles Nigeria and neighbouring Niger, Chad and Cameroon, the sources said on Monday.

The area is a bastion for the Daesh-affiliated Islamic State West Africa Province (ISWAP).

The reports of casualties came less than two weeks after officials say another air strike on a village killed nine civilians in Nigeria's northeast where the military is battling a 12-year militant insurgency.

Influx of fisherman

ISWAP recently lifted a ban on fishermen in its territory, allowing them to move in and fish in the freshwater lake for a fee. That led to an influx of fisherman who had abandoned the area.

"Any fisherman that goes to that area does so at his own risk because it is an enemy territory and there is no way of differentiating them from the terrorists," one local intelligence source said.

"From the information we have been receiving the death toll is much higher than 20."

Local fisherman Labo Sani told AFP by telephone that the jet strike hit Kwatar Daban Masara at around 6 am (0500 GMT), killing around 20 fishermen.

Kwatar Daban Masara which is on the shores of the lake is the "gateway to ISWAP's camps on several islands" and a supply route for the militants said Sani from nearby Daban Masara.

Another fisherman, Sallau Arzika, said the fighter jet struck the village "killing many of our people who are there for fishing".

"The initial death toll was around 20, but the figure has been increasing with the deaths of many of the injured," Arzika said.

News of the incident was slow the emerge due to limited telecommunications in the region.

A Nigerian air force spokesman did not immediately respond to a message seeking confirmation or comment.

The intelligence source who works with anti-militant militia in the region said the strike was based on "credible information" of a gathering of ISWAP fighters in the village since Wednesday.

He said aerial surveillance and reports from other sources revealed militants were amassing in Kwatar Daban Masara and it was obvious they were planning an attack, the source said.

'Preemptive strike'

According to another security source, the village was subjected to surveillance in the past 10 days after scores of men suspected to be foreign fighters arrived in several vehicles and were ferried to camps inside the lake.

"It was a preemptive strike to destroy whatever plans the terrorists were making," said the security source.

"You don't expect an innocent civilian to be at that location and whoever is found is certainly part of the terrorists," he said.

Source: https://www.trtworld.com/africa/botched-nigeria-air-strike-kills-many-fishermen-report-50294

Aside from murdering innocent Nigerians, what else our military and police force are known for

So unprofessional. Which is why I don't pity them when they falls like an iroko tree

R. I. P to those innocent fishermen.

and they were makeing noise of brutalizing the boko men. May the fishermen RIP.

Please, is this news current?

They're working for ISWAP. Is Fcking impossible to catch fish or live in Daban masara without a nod from ISWAP.... The Air force knows it, the journalist knows it. They're collateral damage I guess

Next news of killings please.

Hangmnk:
They're working for ISWAP. Is Fcking impossible to catch fish or live in Daban masara without a nod from ISWAP.... The Air force knows it, the journalist knows it. They're collateral damage I guess

They pay a toll to iswap to fish. They were paying to bokoharam before iswap took over from them when they kpuffed their leader.

Innocent fishermen

Another misfire?

Becoming one to many...

Too bad.... RIP to the innocent souls

The Nigerian military is always on the bad side of the news.

Can they replicate this in sambisa forest?

So, they can't differentiate between terrorists and fishermen.

What sort of fuckery is that?
Are these people not trained?
Why always striking innocent civilians

Lol

What a failed lord lugged experiment called a country.
It will not be well with your carcass anywhere it is.

wow

Rs

What sort of nonsense is this....

The military has killed more civilians than the terrorists they should be fighting. This is horrible and pathetic at the same time

Hmmmmm. It is finished

Peterhale:


Source: https://www.trtworld.com/africa/botched-nigeria-air-strike-kills-many-fishermen-report-50294

No wonder the united states are reluctant before selling fighter jets to us.....bunch of half - baked air force....

CondemnBattery:
What sort of fuckery is that?
Are these people not trained?
Why always striking innocent civilians

Too bad

Everything has turned upside down for this country

Hmm

It shall not be well with Buhari

Airstrikes that always manage to completely "miss" actual terrorists while murdering Innocents... What do we call that?!!

Let's just tell ourselves the truth... This can't be a mistake!

I can understand such preventable mistake happening once, but severally?!! Come on!

We are being led by terrorists at all levels starting from their leader in Aso Rock!!!

Do you know

My God

Hangmnk:
They're working for ISWAP. Is Fcking impossible to catch fish or live in Daban masara without a nod from ISWAP.... The Air force knows it, the journalist knows it. They're collateral damage I guess

Are you normal at all? What are you trying to justify? What type of human are you?

Na wa ooo