One year after a military air strike killed about 37 Fulani herders in the Doma Local Government Area of Nasarawa State, the Nigerian Air Force (NAF) has formally tendered apologies to families of the decease who were killed in the January 23rd 2023, airstrike in Rukubi border community between Nasarawa and Benue States.
Chief of the Air Staff (CAS) Air Marshal Hasan Abubakar, who apologized to the families of the deceased while on a visit to the Emir of Lafia, accepted responsibility for the air bombardment on the victims who were mostly youths offloading their cows released to them by the Benue State government.
Explaining that the action of NAF was an accident, not meditated, explained that the Service was acting on intelligence that some terrorists on motorcycles were operating in the area and carried out an airstrike operation which unfortunately killed innocent civilians.
“Thereafter, there was a lot of outcry by well-meaning Nigerians that several innocent civilians may have been killed during the airstrike,” said Air Marshal Abubakar.
He said further investigation into the incident revealed that truly, indeed, several innocent civilians were killed in the airstrike.
The Chief of the Air Staff said the organisation is poised to continue to provide the needed service in the interest of Nigerians.
“Military were employed and paid to protect the lives and property of citizens and whenever the military is accused of killing innocent civilians it’s painful to us,” he said.
However, he added that his visit to Nasarawa State was to condole to the families of those who were affected in the air raid which was highly regrettable.
On his part, the Emir of Lafia, Justice Sidi Bage Mohammed (rtd), described the visit of the Chief of Air Staff to the state as “novel.”
According to the Emir: “We have never witnessed this kind of visit before, coming from an authorised organization to apologise to us and own up to a mistake committed in the course of carrying out a legitimate assignment.”
The Emir, however, stated that the traditional institution will continue to strengthen collaboration with security agencies as the they take measures to tackle insecurity in the State.
@Vanguard
