The Chief of Air Staff, Air Marshal Hassan Abubakar, has apologized to the Nasarawa state government and the families of victims of 2023 airstrike.
The Force in an accidental air strike in January 2023 killed several residents of Rukubi community in Doma, the headquarters of Doma Local Government Area of the state.
Air Staff Marshal Abubakar who spoke during a condolence visit to the State Governor, Abdullahi Sule at the Government House, Lafia, the state capital on Friday, explained that no innocent herder killed in Nasarawa airstrike.
- FCT University is a glorified Secondary school — Wike
- Lagos PDP chair abducted on Lagos-Ibadan Expressway
According to him, the airstrike which unleashed mayhem on residents of the area was not a deliberate attempt by officers of the Nigerian Air Force.
He disclosed that intelligence report had been received by the NAF that some terrorists were sighted on motorcycles in a location around the Rukubi community, but in its efforts to confront them with weapons, innocent civilians in the area lost their lives to the operation.
His words, “No innocent herder killed in Nasarawa airstrike.
“I Air Marshal Abubakar and my team are in the State to sympathize and condole the Government and people of the state over the killing of some herders in Rukubi community of Doma Local Government Area of Nasarawa State, in a military airstrike in January of 2023.”
He continued, “It is not news that the general area (Rukubi) at that time had been well known for its insecurity occasioned by kidnapping and terrorism. Within the period you would recall that six primary school pupils were also kidnapped in the Doma LGA.
“This, necessitated the surveillance by the Nigerian Air Force within the period of time. Unfortunately, the airstrike killed some civilians at the location.
“The unfortunate incident of January 2023 was in no way deliberate as no military the world over, will intentionally kill those it is mandated to protect.
“Therefore, our visit to you (Governor Sule) is to solicit your kind intervention in interfacing with the representatives of the victims of the accidental air strike at Rukubi.
“Our interest in initiating ways and means in reaching out to the victims, their families or their representatives is on the need to calm nerves and bring a close to the matter.”
The Chief of Air Staff who lamented the prevailing security situation in the state, assured of the Nigerian Air Force determination to end the menace of kidnapping, terrorism, banditry and cattle rustling in Nasarawa State and Nigeria as a whole.
Responding, Governor Sule appreciated the Nigerian Air Force for owning up to its mistakes and for agreeing to pacify the victims and relatives of the accidental air strike in the state.
The governor, who was emotional while speaking on the matter, recalled how an eighty years old man lost his nine children and over 80 cows during the strike.
