2023 Nasarawa air strike not deliberate, says NAF

The Chief of Air Staff, Air Marshal Hassan Abubakar, has apologised to the Nasarawa State Government for the accidental air strike which claimed the lives of many residents of the Rukubi community in the Doma Local Government Area of the state in January 2023.

Speaking during a visit to Governor Abdullahi Sule at the Government House, Lafia on Friday, Abubakar said the airstrike which unleashed mayhem on residents of the area was not an intentional act by officers of the Nigerian Air Force.

He revealed that an 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.

The CAS said, “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.”

While decrying the security situation in the state, he assured of the NAF’s commitment to end the scourge of terrorism, banditry, cattle rustling, and kidnapping in Nasarawa State and Nigeria at large.

On his part, the governor commended the NAF for owning up to its mistakes and for agreeing to pacify the victims and relatives of the accidental air strike in the state.

Sule, who was emotional while speaking on the matter, recalled how an 80-year-old man lost his nine children and over 80 cows during the strike.

He said, “When the incident happened, I did not know how to handle it. I had to invite the Miyetti Allah leadership to come in and help me calm them.

“One of them, who is about 80 years old, made me shed tears because he said he had lost his nine children and about 80 cows to the airstrike. They all perished.

“He looked at me and said, I have nothing anymore here (on earth). I do not have children or cows. What do you want me to do Mr. Governor?, I looked at him and encouraged him to be patient, reminding him that he came to this world alone without any of those things and he will go back to the Almighty Allah one day without any of those things. That was how he stopped crying and became calm on the matter.

“So, your coming at this time is perfect and I welcome you to Nasarawa State. We will continue to support you so that at the end of the day, you can continue to provide the services of protecting the lives of the people.”