The Nigerian Air Force (NAF) on Monday announced the launch of investigations into alleged mistaken bombing of civilians in Jika da Kolo community, Yadin Kidandan, Giwa Local Government Area (LGA) of Kaduna state.
The community had alleged that a NAF aircraft mistakenly bombed the community, resulting in the deaths of over 25 people.
But the NAF Deputy Director, Public Relations and Information, Group Captain Kabiru Ali, said in a statement that “thorough investigation is currently ongoing to ascertain the facts with a view to keeping the populace informed in due course.”
According to the statement: “The attention of the Nigerian Air Force has been drawn to reports of alleged civilian casualties following the successful airstrike on a terrorist enclave in Giwa LGA of Kaduna State. The airstrike on the location was based on credible intelligence from numerous reliable sources, as well as confirmatory surveillance of the target area before the strike.
“The said location has been notorious as a terrorist enclave for over 2 years and the successful airstrike would no doubt go a long way in minimizing banditry, kidnapping and similar attacks on innocent civilians in Kaduna State and environs.”
Nevertheless, the NAF is not taking these allegations lightly, as its focus is to always achieve the desired operational objective without collateral damage. Accordingly, a thorough investigation is currently ongoing to ascertain the facts with a view to keeping the populace informed in due course.