The Chief of Air Staff, Air Marshal Hassan Abubakar, has apologised for the airstrike in some communities in Nasarawa that resulted in the death of 27 civilian in January 2023.
Abubaka apologised, yesterday, when he and other top officers visited Governor AbdullahiSule at the Government House, Lafia.
He said: “You may recall that sometimein January last year, airstrikes were conducted in a village near Rukubi, Doma Local Council after sighting some terrorists on motorcycles transiting through Utagudu near Rukubi.
“The area as at the time was known for its heightened insecurity occasioned by killings, kidnapping and terrorism.
“All these necessitated the airstrike, which led to the killing of innocent citizens that provoke outcry. Our findings revealed that some innocent persons were killed by that airstrike while we were trying to hit at the terrorists.
“In view of this, which is inline with best practice, there is the need to make amend.Our visit is to solicit your kind intervention in interfacing with the representatives of the victims of the accidental airstrike at Rukubi.”
He, however, said that it would continue to keep with its responsibility of protecting the lives of citizens.
He stated further that the unfortunate incident of January 2023 was in no way deliberate as no military will intentionally kill those it is mandated to protect.
“Our interest in initiating peace is to calm the nerves and bring closure to the matter.Our effort will promote accountability, transparency and enable us learn valuable lessons in the future to mitigate civilian casualties in the conduct of our operations.
In a remark,Sule commended the gesture of the air force chief by providing human face in the operation that led to the unfortunate killings of those civilians.
“On January 26, 2023, we received some aggrieved family members of victims who were on their way to Abuja to protest.We were able to restrain and calm them as well as encourage them to accept what happened to them.”
Sule, however, lauded the airforce wing deployed to some parts of the state and the calmness being experienced because of their supports.
He assured the airforce leadership that the state government will continue to talk to families and representatives of the victim using the leadership of the Fulanis.
It could be recalled that Sule exonerated the Nigerian Air Force from the attack. He said then: “No air force plane flew through the area,” adding that the bombing was carried out by an unidentified drone.
