Air force probes civilian deaths

Nigeria's air force says it is investigating reports that shots fired from one of its aircraft killed several civilians. It retracted an earlier denial that the victims were killed by bomb blasts. Spokesperson Edward Gabkwet said the air force acted on intelligence reports of ‘militant activity’ in the north-east of the country and an aircraft was sent to respond last Wednesday. ‘The aircraft while operating south of Kanama observed suspicious movement consistent with the behaviour of Boko Haram terrorists whenever a jet aircraft is overhead,’ he said. As a result, the pilot fired some ‘probing’ shots. Relatives told the BBC that the aircraft fired on a village killing many people, including an entire family.