Nigerian Air Force Apologies Over Accidental Airstrike That Killed Scores of Civilians in Nasarawa

The Chief of Air Staff of the Nigerian Air Force, Air Marshal Abubakar Hassan, has apologised to the people of Nasarawa state in the northern part of the country, over the killing of civilians in an accidental airstrike. He said the incident was regrettable as he vowed to continue to repel the aggression of non-state actors in Nigeria…

The Nigerian Air Force has apologised to the Nasarawa state government and the families of victims of the January 2023 accidental airstrike.

Recall that the Air Force, by mistake, bombed residents of Rukubi community in Doma, headquarters of Doma Local Government Area of the state, leading to the death of scores of civilians.

While paying a condolence visit to the Governor of Nasarawa, Abdullahi Sule at Government House, Lafia, the Chief of Air Staff, Air Marshal Abubakar Hassan, clarified that that the airstrike was a mistake and not a deliberate aggression on the civilian population.

He explained that the troops of the Air Force were trying to dislodge some terrorists sighted on motorcycles in a location around the Rukubi community when the civilians in the area got caught in the fire.

The Chief of Air Staff expressed sadness over the unfortunate incident while assuring that the Nigerian Air Force is determined to end the menace of kidnapping, terrorism, banditry and cattle rustling in Nasarawa State and Nigeria as a whole.

Accidental discharge by the troops of the Nigerian defence forces have killed hundreds of civilians in the fight against internal insecurity.

Similar unfortunate have been recorded in the past especially in Borno, Kaduna, Nasarawa , Zamfara among other states where the military is fighting against extremist insurgencies.