Airstrikes by a Nigerian military fighter aircraft on the pursuit of a terror group on Friday, Feb. 18, hit a small village in southern Niger Republic, killing at least 12 persons, including four children.
According to survivors, the Nigerian plane dropped ammunition during its second flight over the Fulani ethnic group hamlet of Nachambé near Garin Kaoura in the Madarounfa district, near the border with Nigeria.
Sixteen persons were also injured in the incident.
One of the children died shortly after arriving at Madarounfa District Hospital.
Two others were reported to have died after being transferred to the regional hospital in Maradi, while the fourth child, aged 20 months was killed in the bombing.
Six adults reportedly died in the airstrike scene, and two more died after being transferred to the hospital in Maradi.
The Nigerian plane was reportedly pursuing an armed gang that had taken shelter in a school located in a border village.
Doctors Without Borders is providing treatment for the children injured in the airstrike.
According to the medical support organisation, seven injured children were received at the hospital in Madarounfa.
Dr Souley Harouna, MSF representative in Niger described it as a horrific event, unprecedented in the Madarounfa region.
“The teams report that the injured children suffered open fractures and various wounds and post-traumatic injuries,” Dr Harouna said.
“We helped perform first aid before transferring them to the hospital in Maradi, but some of the injured did not survive.”