The head of Nigeria’s Air Force said last Friday he was profoundly sorry his officers bombed civilians a year ago in Kwateri, a village in Nasarawa State.
Twenty-seven people died when the military mistook the movements of herders for those of bandits on 24 January 2023, and an airstrike was called in.
Since the bombing, the authorities neither provided information on the incident nor owned up to the killing of the civilians.
A year later, the Chief of Air Staff, CAS, Air Marshal Hassan Abubakar visited the village to commiserate with the bereaved families.
Expressing regret over the incident, Air Marshal Abubakar noted that the unfortunate incident was not deliberate but had targeted suspected terrorists and cattle rustlers because of the heightened level of insecurity in the area at the time.
“Military was employed and paid to protect the lives and property of citizens and whenever the military is accused of killing innocent civilians, it is painful to us,” he said.
Governor Abdullahi Sule expressed delight over the visit and commended the CAS for revisiting the earlier report of the incident and for his efforts at making amends.
According to him, “This is the first time a military organization is owing up to mistakes committed over a year ago, and I must commend you immensely. The fact that you have come personally and want a closure on this matter is the peak of professionalism worthy of emulation and commendation.”
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