A Nigerian Air Force fighter jet has killed nine people in Buhari community, Yunusari Local Government Area of Yobe State.
Several other villagers sustained injuries and are now receiving medical attention at a government health facility in Geidam.
According to a resident of Damaturu, Saleh Ibrahim, the jet shelled the village in the early hours of Wednesday when the villagers were preparing to go to the weekly market in Geidam, a neighbouring local government, 200 km from Damaturu.
“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.”
Meanwhile, Yobe State Governor, Mai Mala Buni has commiserated with families of those who lost their lives in the ‘unfortunate’ airstrike on Buhari village in Yunusari Local Government Area of the State.
Buni said although it could have been an accident or mistaken target, the government will join hands with the security agencies to unravel the root cause of the incident.
The Governor in a statement through his Spokesman, Mamman Mohammed, directed his Special Adviser on Security Affairs, to liaise with the Nigeria Air Force and the Multi-National Joint Task Force, to look into the unfortunate airstrike.
He assured that government will work closely with the security forces especially the Nigeria Air Force to establish what actually happened.
“This is very important and necessary for us to guard against future occurrence and to safeguard the lives of our people,” Buni said.
The Governor also assured the preparedness of his administration to work with all security forces to ensure the safety of the state.
Meanwhile, Governor Mai Mala Buni has directed government hospitals in Geidam and Damaturu to offer free medical services to those who sustained injuries from the airstrike.
Similarly, the State Emergency Management Agency (SEMA) has been directed to provide relief materials to cater for the immediate needs of the families of the deceased persons and other members of the community.
