The Nigerian Air Force has accepted responsibility for the January 2023 air strike that killed 37 herders alongside their livestock in the Rukubi community of Doma Local Government Area of Nasarawa State.
The Chief of Air Staff, Air Marshall, Hassan Abubakar, visited Nasarawa state Friday alongside senior officials of the Air Force on the findings of the review committee on the airstrike report.
“Sometime in January last year, airstrikes were conducted in the state after intelligence revealed the sighting of suspected terrorists on motorcycles transiting near Rukubi in the Doma local government area of the state.
The entire area was well known for its heightened insecurity occasioned by killings, kidnapping, and terrorism perpetrated by terrorist elements in the state,” he stated.
“Because of this, the need for an airstrike became imperative but unfortunately however the airstrike killed some civilians at the location and the outcries by several locals as well as Nigerians necessitated a review of the reports of strikes, which later revealed that civilians were indeed killed during the airstrike. The need to make amends became expedient.”
The air chief maintained that the action was not deliberate.
Nasarawa state governor, Abdullahi Sule appreciated the Air Force for their efforts in ensuring peace in the state, especially in the eastern part of the state.
Commending the Air Chief for putting a human face into the military operations, he revealed that the state had supported the victims since the incident occurred a year ago.
