Air Force probes another bombing of civilians in Kaduna

The Nigerian Air Force said it has commenced an investigation into the alleged killing of innocent civilians during an Air raid on a terrorist enclave in Giwa, Kaduna State.

This is the second time such ‘mistake killing’ by the military forces has occurred in the Kaduna axis. It is exactly nine months now after Tudun Biri ‘error killing’.

According to the spokesman of the Air Force, Group Captain Kabiru Ali, “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.”

On Sunday, December 3, 2023, villagers gathered in Tudun Biri, Kaduna State to celebrate Maulud, the birthday of the Prophet Muhammad when a military drone on a routine counterterrorism operation allegedly mistook their movement patterns for those of bandits, and an airstrike was carried out.

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Eighty-five persons were buried, while dozens were injured in the strike

While the Nigerian army’s high command initially denied the air strike, they later confirmed that security forces mistook the civilians for militants.

President Bola Tinubu had since ordered a thorough investigation of the incident. However, nothing has been heard about the outcome of the military court trial of those who were indicted in the matter.