killed close to 37 innocent Nigeriens (Niger
republic citizens) during a funeral ceremony in
Niger.
According to local officials at least 37
mourners were killed during the funeral
ceremony of a prefecture official.
A humanitarian source said the airstrike killed
37 people near a mosque in Abadam.
The strike on Tuesday came with Niger
involved in a regional offensive in the
area against Nigeria-based Boko Haram
fighters, who have waged a brutal six-
year insurgency that has killed over
13,000 people.
One local leader, who put the death toll at 37
with 20 wounded, blamed Nigeria for the
airstrike blunder.
“At first we thought it was a blunder by Chad
or Niger’s army, but now we suspect the
Nigerian army is responsible,” said an elected
leader from Bosso in Niger, which is about 10
kilometres (six miles) from Abadam.
The leader said another airstrike blunder killed
1 person in Gamgara village last week.