Cameroonian boy killed by convoy of US envoy to the UN

A convoy of the US ambassador to the United Nations accidentally killed a young boy in Cameroon on Monday.

During a visit to show US support for the campaign against Nigeria’s militant group Boko Haram, Samantha Power’s motorcade struck the young boy and medics were unable to save him.

“Although he received immediate medical care from an ambulance in our convoy, he died shortly thereafter,” Power said in a statement

7-year-old boy hit and killed by UN Ambassador Samantha Power's motorcade in Cameroon. https://t.co/KU0RBV1Mqa pic.twitter.com/Ayd4bMVVNv

— ABC News (@ABC) April 18, 2016

“We visited with the boy’s family to offer our profound condolences and to express our grief and heartbreak over what the family is going through,” she added.

Despite the tragic event, Power together with Cameroonian officials went to visit Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs) as well as refugees impacted by Boko Haram’s insurgency. Boko Haram’s terror has displaced 2.5 million people.

“We cannot defeat Boko Haram only using military force. Of course, military force has to be part of it; they have guns, they have suicide vests, they have armored vehicles – they have those things, and we will fight them. And we will join you and support your fight against them. But we also have to ensure that as we take the fight to Boko Haram with us supporting you, that we do so in a manner that respects the lives of civilians in the areas where Boko Haram is operating,” said Power.

Boko Haram has caused havoc in Nigeria, Niger, Chad and Cameroon where the group launches attacks.

The militant group has killed thousands and abducted hundreds including the Chibok schoolgirls.

The group is fighting to create an Islamic state.

state.gov