NAF donates N23m to victims of airstrike

The Yobe State Police Command has begun an investigation into the discovery of a woman’s body near the Federal University, Gashua. Police Public Relations Officer, SP Dungus Abdulkarim, disclosed this to journalists in Damaturu, saying the incident was reported on Friday by one Yusuf Baka, a resident of Sabon Daula Ward in Bade Local Council.

He said the deceased, identified as 45-year-old Falmata Abubakar of Abasha, Sarkin Hausawa Ward, Gashua, was found near the university fence, dressed in a black hijab.

Abdulkarim explained that police operatives from the Gashua Division visited the scene and evacuated the body to the Specialist Hospital, Gashua, where a medical doctor confirmed her dead.

Preliminary investigations, according to him, indicated that the woman was transported in a vehicle and dumped at the location, about two kilometres from her residence.

He said the body was later released to her family for burial after an autopsy was conducted in line with Islamic rites. Abdulkarim added that the state Commissioner of Police, Mr Emmanuel Ado, had assured members of the public of a thorough and professional investigation to uncover the circumstances surrounding the incident.He urged residents to remain calm and cooperate with the police by providing useful information that could aid the ongoing investigation.

MEANWHILE, the Nigerian Air Force (NAF) has donated N23 million as compensation to victims of the September 14 airstrike in Buhari community, Yunusari Local Council of Yobe State, which claimed eight lives and left 30 others injured.

Chief of the Air Staff (CAS), Air Marshal Hassan Bala Abubakar, said the incident occurred during a counter-terrorism operation targeting Islamic State of West Africa Province (ISWAP) insurgents in the area, noting that the community was mistakenly hit during the mission.

Represented by the Air Component Commander of the Joint Task Force North-East Operation Hadin Kai, Air Commodore Umar Idris, the Air Chief expressed the Force’s deep regret over the incident and conveyed condolences to the bereaved families and survivors.

NAF presented N1 million each to the families of the eight deceased victims and N500,000 each to the 30 injured persons. Idris also disclosed that the Force had commenced quick-impact projects in Buhari community to ease residents’ hardship. These, he said, include the installation of a solar-powered borehole to provide safe drinking water, among other initiatives aimed at restoring livelihoods.

Yobe State Governor, Mai Mala Buni, commended the NAF for the gesture and its commitment to supporting affected citizens. Represented by his Special Adviser on Security Matters, Brigadier General Abdulsalam Dahiru (rtd), the governor reaffirmed the state government’s readiness to work closely with the military to ensure peace and stability in the region. Buni described the incident as a “tragic mistake” that occurred during operations against Boko Haram elements in the area.