Seven children were killed in an airstrike carried out by the Nigerian army targeting armed gangs in Niger.
Chaibou Aboubacar, governor of Niger’s Maradi region, told AFP that five children were injured in the attack, which apparently occurred as a result of accident.
Governor Aboubacar stated that four children died at the scene and three children died at the hospital. State television, on the other hand, reported that the attack took place in the village of Nachade.
Nigerian authorities announced that an investigation has been launched into the incident.
Pointing out that the planes targeted the gunmen gangs in the border region between the two countries, but missed the target and hit the village, Aboubacar said the children were “probably playing games” during the attack.
Niger and Nigeria are conducting joint operations against armed gangs in the region.
Since 2018, the Niger government has also strengthened its military patrols on the Nigerian border to prevent gang attacks.
Three months ago, 26 children aged 5 and 6 died in a fire in the city of Maradi.