ABUJA – The Chief of Air Staff (CAS), Air Marshal Hasan Abubakar, has held a meeting with the families and victims affected by the accidental air strikes that occurred on January 24, 2023, near Rukubi in Doma Local Government Area (LGA) of Nasarawa State. The Director of Public Relations and Information, Nigerian Air Force (NAF), AVM Edward Gabkwet, revealed this information on Sunday in Abuja.
During the meeting, which took place in Lafia on January 26, the CAS expressed deep regret over the incident. He acknowledged that the incident reports indicated that innocent civilians may have been mistakenly killed or injured during the operation. Abubakar emphasized that the unfortunate event was not deliberate but was intended to target suspected terrorists and cattle rustlers, given the high level of insecurity in the area at that time.
He reaffirmed that the primary responsibility of the NAF was to safeguard the lives and properties of all Nigerians. Abubakar assured the families and victims that the NAF would never intentionally engage in actions that would put the lives of Nigerians at risk. He explained that the interface with the affected families aimed to demonstrate the NAF’s commitment to conflict resolution, reconciliation, and rebuilding trust between the NAF and the civilian population.
Prior to the meeting, the air chief had also met with Governor Abdullahi Sule to seek his support in facilitating discussions with the representatives of the victims. Abubakar stressed that the purpose of these interfaces was to address important questions, promote accountability, and foster transparency. The NAF aimed to learn valuable lessons from the incident to mitigate the chances of similar occurrences in the future.
Abubakar emphasized that accountability and transparency were crucial to demonstrate the NAF’s commitment to taking responsibility and highlighting its humanitarian concerns for civilians affected by ongoing air operations. He stated, “Our efforts to mitigate civilian casualties as well as take responsibility in the event of accidental strikes are not just a reflection of our values as a Service, but are also strategically imperative to our operations.”
The meeting between the CAS, families, and victims of the accidental air strikes marks an important step towards resolving grievances and rebuilding trust. The NAF is determined to learn from this tragic incident and ensure that necessary measures are in place to prevent such occurrences in the future.
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