The town of Rann in northern Nigeria was hit by an aerial bombardment on 17 January 2017. The Nigerian armed forces have claimed responsibility for the strike which killed at least 90 people and injured hundreds. Médecins Sans Frontières (MSF) was providing medical care in Rann at the time of the bombardment. MSF provided emergency medical care to the wounded in the bombing and helped evacuate severely injured.

MSF teams based in Cameroon used to cross from the border to provide punctual assistance when the security situation allowed, but MSF now has a permanent team in Rann and is the main medical provider to the 50,00 people living there. The living conditions are very poor and many still live in makeshift shelters. During the rainy season, Rann is totally cut off from the outside world as the roads disappear under water. No humanitarian assistance can get in.