NAF Chief Visits Zamfara Airstrike Victims, Takes Responsibility

By: Our Reporter

The Chief of the Air Staff (CAS), Air Marshal Hasan Abubakar, has visited Zamfara State to meet with victims and families affected by the recent Nigerian Air Force (NAF) airstrike, expressing deep regret over the tragic incident.

During his visit on Thursday, the CAS acknowledged the grief and pain suffered by the victims, their families, and the entire community, describing the event as a painful departure from the NAF’s commitment to protecting Nigerian citizens.

Abubakar also met with Zamfara State Governor, Dauda Lawal, where he reaffirmed the NAF’s dedication to safeguarding lives and ensuring that such incidents are minimized.

He commended the governor’s leadership and commitment to the state’s 6-Point Development Agenda, which prioritizes security, agriculture, education, healthcare, economic empowerment, and welfare.

Providing an account of the airstrike, the CAS said intelligence reports on January 11 indicated the movement of suspected terrorists on motorcycles through Dangebe Village in Maradun Local Government Area. The area had been targeted a day earlier as part of efforts to neutralize terrorist elements loyal to Bello Turji, a notorious bandit leader.

“Further surveillance confirmed the presence of armed motorcyclists whose movements matched the tactics of terrorist groups operating in the region,” he explained.

However, reports later emerged that the strike may have mistakenly killed members of a local vigilante group returning from a successful operation against terrorists.

Following these allegations, Abubakar said he immediately deployed a fact-finding team to assess the situation in collaboration with relevant stakeholders. Their findings confirmed that 11 members of the vigilante group were unintentionally killed, while another 11 sustained injuries ranging from fractures to minor shrapnel wounds.

Expressing deep regret, the CAS assured that the NAF fully acknowledged the pain caused by the incident and was taking steps to ensure such occurrences were prevented in the future.

To mitigate the suffering of the victims and their families, the CAS announced a series of support measures, including financial assistance for the families of those who lost their lives.

He also pledged the reconstruction of a damaged building in the affected village and the replacement of two motorcycles destroyed in the strike. Additionally, he directed the NAF Director of Services to provide a solar-powered borehole in Kambarawa Village to serve the local community and neighboring settlements.

“While these efforts cannot undo the loss suffered, they demonstrate the Air Force’s resolve to make amends and provide relief to those affected,” Abubakar stated.

The CAS highlighted the NAF’s newly developed Civilian Harm Mitigation and Response Action Plan (CHMR-AP), which is aimed at enhancing operational precision, improving assessments and investigations, and ensuring effective response mechanisms when civilian harm occurs.

According to him, the plan is designed to be flexible and scalable, ensuring improved strategic outcomes and refined operational assessments to prevent collateral damage during military operations.

He reiterated that the NAF remains committed to working closely with local authorities and security agencies to curb terrorism, banditry, and other criminal activities threatening peace in the North West.

Governor Lawal expressed gratitude to the CAS and his delegation for their visit and for standing in solidarity with the affected families. He also commended the proactive measures taken to prevent future occurrences.

As part of the visit, the governor presented the NAF with a Certificate of Occupancy for a parcel of land near Gusau Airport, designated for the establishment of a new Air Force Base in Zamfara.

NAF Chief Visits Zamfara Airstrike Victims, Takes Responsibility