An accidental bomb discharged by operatives of the Nigerian Air Force has seen no less than 17 people civilians killed, including children and women at Sakotoku village in Damboa local government area of Borno state.

Residents revealed  that those killed included women, and children who were said to be playing under mango trees, TheCable reports.

The air force, military sources said, was informed that Boko Haram insurgents were gathering around the village on Thursday afternoon.

The supposed target, according to a source, was an area in Korongilum, a neighbouring village 12 kilometres away where suspected Boko Haram insurgents had gathered earlier.

“We don’t know if they didn’t communicate well with the land troops as the air force jet fired that bomb on the village,” one of the sources said.

“Seventeen people were killed, mostly women and their children playing under mango trees. Many were also injured and have been taken to the 25 army brigade in Damboa, and those with critical injuries were taken to Maiduguri.”

Some of the villagers whose houses were destroyed have found their way to Damboa.

In February, residents of Garkida, Adamawa state and Korongilum, Borno state, had alleged that NAF fighter jets refused to open fire on suspected Boko Haram insurgents when they attacked their communities.

Ibikunle Daramola, NAF spokesperson, had then said that they could not engage the insurgents because the situation in Garkida was chaotic, and that they took the measure so they would not hit civilians.