The Chief of Air Staff, Air Marshal Hassan Abubakar, has apologised to the Nasarawa State Government for the accidental air strike which claimed the lives of many residents in Rukubi community of Doma Local Government Area in January 2023.
Speaking during a visit to Governor Abdullahi Sule at the Government House in Lafia, Abubakar said the airstrike was not an intentional act by officers of the Nigerian Air Force.
One year after a military air strike that killed some Fulani herders in Doma local government area of Nasarawa state, authorities of the Nigerian Air force are in the state to tender an apology to families of those killed in the January 23rd ,2023 airstrike
The air chief explained that an intelligence report had been received by the Airforce that some terrorists were sighted on motorcycles in a location around the Rukubi community, but in its efforts to confront them, innocent civilians in the area lost their lives.
While speaking on the security situation in the state, he assured Nigerians of NAF’s commitment to tackle terrorism, banditry, cattle rustling, and kidnapping in Nasarawa State and Nigeria at large.
On his part, the governor commended NAF for owning up to its mistakes and for agreeing to pacify the victims and relatives of the accidental air strike a move described as first of its kind
The Emir of Lafia Sidi Bage, also commended the authority of the Nigeria air force for the courage of accepting their mistake during an exercise a year ago in the state.
Editor: Ena Agbanoma