…Community inadvertently affected while pursuing terrorists – Army
The Nigerian Air Force (NAF), has debunked insinuations that it accidentally killed innocent civilians in Kaduna through bombings.
The NAF in a statement by its Director of Public Relations and Information, Air Commodore Edward Gabkwet, categorically stated that the Force has not carried out any air operations within Kaduna State and environs in the last 24hours.
Gabkwet also said that it should be noted that the NAF is not the only organization operating combat armed drones in the North western region of Nigeria.
The NAF further said that it was important to ensure that due diligence was always exhausted by the media before going to press with unverified and unconfirmed reports.
Meanwhile, the Nigerian Army has explained the circumstances which led to the unfortunate and unintended attack.
The General Officer Commanding 1 Division of the Nigerian Army, Major-General VU Okoro told a Security Council meeting of the Kaduna State chaired by the Deputy Governor, Dr. Hadiza Balarabe that the Nigerian Army was on a routine mission against terrorists which inadvertently affected members of the community.
In a statement on Monday, December 4, 2023, the Kaduna State Government said it received briefings on Sunday night’s attack which left several citizens dead and others injured.
At the closed door meeting which had in attendance heads of security agencies, religious and traditional leaders, the Deputy Governor conveyed the condolences of the Government and people of the State to the families that lost their loved ones, and prayed for the repose of the victims’ souls.
The statement signed by Samuel Aruwan, the Overseeing Commissioner, Ministry of Internal Security and Home Affairs, Kaduna State, said that as of the time of the update, search-and-rescue efforts were still ongoing, adding that dozens of injured victims have been evacuated to Barau Dikko Teaching Hospital by the Kaduna State Government.
In attendance at the security Council meeting were Heads of security agencies that included the Commissioner of Police, MY Garba, Director of the Department of State Services (DSS) Abdul Eneche, Chairman of the Kaduna State Chapter of Jam’atu Nasril Islam (JNI) Professor Shafi’u Abdullahi, who led other religious leaders and the District Head of Rigasa, Alhaji Aminu Idris in whose domain the incident occurred.
