Defence Headquarters (DHQ) has kept mum and has refused any comment on the recent incidents of miscalculated airstrikes by Nigerian Air Force (NAF) aircrafts in Nasarawa and Niger States to avoid to avoid taking issue with some persons of interests on the matter, particularly the State Governors.
About 50 persons were killed when NAF aircraft bombed a located which turned out to be inhabited by herdsmen and other residents in Doma community, at the border between Benue and Nasarawa States.
Also, 18 members of a special hunters squad attached to the Department of State Services (DSS) were allegedly killed during a military airstrike at Galadima Kogo community in Shiroro Local Government Area of Niger State on Tuesday.
Director, Defence Media Operations, Major General Musa Danmadami, told journalists at the bi-weekly briefing of the military on Thursday in Abuja that the Armed Forces of Nigeria however would not be discouraged, adding that they would continue to go about their duties professionally.
According to General Danmadami: “On Nasarawa and Benue, we are not going to dwell on the issue. We will leave it the way it is. We are not going to join issues with anybody on those incidents. The Chief Executive Officers of those States have spoken on the matter.
“We are not going to talk much on this issue. Like I said earlier, operations are being carried out in the length and breadth of the country. So, I do not want to dwell on this incident or what is being reported in the press.
“But what I can tell you is that we are very professional in the conduct of our operations. They are also intelligence-driven. Also, our code of conduct and standard of operation are in tandem with international best practices. I can assure you that we would continue to conduct operations in line with this, irrespective of what people are saying.
“For Nasarawa and Benue, the Governor has spoken on the issue and we would not want to go contrary to what he has said. If there are subsequent issues on that you will definitely hear from us.”