January 13, (THEWILL) – Chief of the Air Staff, Air Marshal Hasan Abubakar, has dispatched a fact-finding team to Zamfara to investigate reported incidents of civilian casualties in the recent Nigerian Air Force airstrikes in Zamfara State.
The Team, led by Air Vice Marshal Edward K Gabkwet, Director of Coordination and Cooperation in the Civil-Military Relations Branch of NAF Headquarters, will liaise and interface with State and Local Government officials as well as all other critical stakeholders, for a holistic assessment of the situation to drive the appropriate response.
Residents of Tungar Kara community in Zurmi Local Government Area of the State, alleged on Sunday that 16 vigilantes were mistakenly hit by Airforce’s airstrikes on bandits who attacked the community.
They claimed that the vigilantes had mobilised to defend the community when they were struck by the airstrike while trying to retrieve rustled animals from the fleeing bandits
In a statement by its Director Public Relations and Information, Air Vice Marshal Olusola Fakinboyewa, the CAS reiterated the NAF’s commitment to the highest level of professionalism and transparency in the conduct of operations, in line with appropriate global standards.
“Our absolute value for the life and well-being of every Nigerian remains an integral part of the ethos of the Service, as we sustain the effort to defeat all threats to our nation’s peace, security, and prosperity.
“Mindful also of the need to maintain public trust, which is germane to our operational effectiveness, we enjoin all stakeholders to rest assured that the NAF will continue to refine its operational procedures to ensure mission accomplishment while protecting civilians and civilian infrastructure,” the statement added.
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