Divergent opinions of the Nigerian Air Force (NAF) were expressed by members of the House of Representatives yesterday following Tuesday’s accidental bombing of an Internally Displaced Persons’ (IDP) camp in Rann, Kale Balge Local Government Area of Borno State.
With scores reportedly dead and hundreds injured, the lawmakers were in support of a thorough investigation of the incidence with a view of preventing future occurrence.
Several others said the NAF should not be condemned as such unfortunate incidences are not uncommon in conflict situations.
Following the adoption of a motion of urgent national importance on the accidental bombing by Sani Zorro (APC, Jigawa), the House resolved to constitute a 10-member Committee selected from committees on IDPs, Refugees and Initiatives on the North East, Army, Air Force, Disaster Preparedness and Emergency Assistance and Health Services to among other things:
Visit the scene of the disaster and ascertain the level of response of emergency assistance needed by the surviving victims of the air strike and members of their immediate families.
Ascertain the extent to which emergency and adequate health services are being extended to the surviving victims of the mishap.
In his submission, Zorro noted with regret and sadness the deaths of yet-to-be ascertained the number of internally displaced persons (IDP) and injury suffered by hundreds of others including humanitarian workers following the accidental air raid on an IDP site at Rann, Kale Balge Local government areas of Borno State.
According to him the preliminary explanation by the Armed Forces command was that the incident was not a deliberate act of targeting, nor a hostile act on the civilian population whose lives it had the duty to safeguard and protect.
He said: “While we are aware of claims and counter claims among humanitarian actors and the media surrounding the actual casualty figure so far recorded in the wake of the incident, we should be mindful of the need to ascertain whether the air strike was in accordance with strict observance of the Rules of Engagement (ROE) under air law and as enshrined under International Humanitarian Law (IHL), otherwise known as the Law of Armed Conflict (LOAC)”.
While many of the lawmakers described the incidence as sad, unfortunate and irresponsible of the Nigerian Air Force (NAF), a few said the incidence was not enough to jump into conclusion and condemn the military.
Toby Okechukwu (PDP, Enugu) argued that the country has never recorded any instance of deliberate incidence like this. “What we should ask for at this point in time is what measures to put be in place to prevent reoccurrence
“We should not subject the NAF to such demeaning condemnation and I don’t see the need for any investigation.
“The House should rather call on the Armed Forces to take appropriate measure to avert such reoccurrence and brief the House on such measures”.
Emmanuel Oker-Jev (APC, Benue) speaking in the same vein, however, emphasised that it will be unfortunate to conclude that the incidence was deliberate.
“What is needed to be done is to improve their intelligence gathering because wrong intelligence report can lead to disaster.
“The Borno incidence is unfortunate but can happen anywhere, this should not lead to condemnation of our military”.
Ehiozuwa Agbonayinma (PDP, Edo) it was no time to point fingers and castigate the military which makes the investigation of the incidence inevitable.
“How do we know if it was an error or otherwise? We should not jump into conclusion and this is not the time to point fingers and castigate anyone. The investigation should be conducted with no sentiments”.
Mohammed Sani (APC, Bauchi) said though the incidence was unfortunate, issue of friendly fire is not uncommon in situations like this.
He said major concern should be on the quality of intelligence gathering among and within the security agencies should be questioned, because the level of error should be zero or minimal.
He canvassed for proper coordination and intelligence sharing among securiry agencies as well as proper administration and delineation of IDP camps.
Nnenna Elendu-Ukeje (PDP, Abia) said, “Only recently our military was celebrated over the capture of Sambisa but we should know this is not a conventional war. The entire intelligence coordination of our security agencies should be looked into”.
Nasir Ali Ahmed (APC, Kano ) also noted that with all their sophistication many advanced countries have recorded collateral damages during conflicts. “Proper marking or mapping of IDP camps would have prevented this incidence,” he added.
Abdulrazak Namdas (APC, Adamawa) said the military has performed well in the past but regretted the incidence as unfortunate. “Other IDPs are now apprehensive because they feel they might be mistaken for insurgents.
NAF should be more cautious
Investigate,” he noted.
On the other hand, Anayo Nnebe (PDP, Anambra) described the incidence as sad and irresponsible of the NAF to say it was accidental. “NAF has not done well, there is need to investigate it thoroughly,” he added.
Shuaibu Abdulrahman (APC, Adamawa) said the accidental bombing was pathetic at a time the military was being praised for doing well in the Northeast. “We need to know if it was really an accident,” he said.
On his part, Aminu Shagari (APC, Sokoto) noted that the Nigerian military has always been very careful in their operations, “That is why it should be investigated to find out if it was deliberate, negligence or an error, so that appropriate punishment is served to serve as deterrence,” he said.
The motion was unanimously adopted after it was put to a voice vote by the Speaker, Yakubu Dogara.
Similarly, the House also condemned the twin bomb d blasts by Boko Haram at the University of Maiduguri Monday and have urged the security agencies in the State to intensify intelligence gathering operations with adequate protective measures put in place around tertiary institutions in Borno State to avoid the occurrence of a similar attack.
The National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA) was also urged to pay the medical expenses of the injured persons.
