Two South African mercenaries contracted to help Nigeria in the war against insurgency were on Monday killed in error by the Nigerian military in Bama, Borno State.

Daily Times says that Leon Mare Lotz, a military contractor and his driver (simply named as Nangombe) were both shot dead when their convoy was mistaken for Boko Haram vehicles.

Reuters reports that the shooting which killed those men occurred in ‘pitch dark.’

The Director of Defence Information for Nigeria, Major Gen, Chris Olukolade wasn’t responding to messages at press time.

Although military sources have kept mum about this occurrence, a widow named Almari was quoted as saying: ““I just know Leon was killed. I know that he went to Nigeria with his eyes wide open and was aware that it was a dangerous operation.”

She also reportedly added: “he was with some of his brothers-in-arms who have walked a path with him for many years.”

Another military officer anonymously confirmed this narrative, and described the death as ‘friendly fire.