The Chief of the Air Staff, Air Marshal Hasan Abubakar, has sent a high-level fact-finding team to Zamfara State following an alleged accidental bombing during a Nigerian Air Force (NAF) operation on Saturday, which reportedly resulted in the deaths of 16 vigilantes in Kakindawa village, Maradun Local Government Area.
The bombing incident occurred when a vigilante group was en route to assist residents of Tungar Kara village, who had been attacked by bandits. Local sources, including an indigene, Garba Umar, confirmed the attack took place on Saturday evening. Both the Zamfara State government and the All Progressives Congress (APC) in the state have expressed condolences to the families of the victims.
In a statement released on Monday, the NAF announced that the fact-finding team, led by Air Vice Marshal Edward K. Gabkwet, the Director of Coordination and Cooperation in the Civil-Military Relations Branch at NAF Headquarters, would investigate the incident. The team’s mission is to assess the situation comprehensively by engaging with state and local government officials, as well as other relevant stakeholders, to gather the necessary information for further action.
The NAF’s spokesperson, AVM Olusola Akinboyewa, reiterated the Nigerian Air Force’s commitment to professionalism and transparency in its operations, emphasizing that the safety and well-being of Nigerian citizens remain a core priority. “The CAS wishes to reiterate the NAF’s commitment to the highest level of professionalism and transparency in the conduct of operations,” Akinboyewa stated. He also reassured the public that the NAF would continue refining its operational procedures to avoid civilian casualties while achieving mission objectives.
This incident follows a similar event on Christmas Day when an airstrike by the NAF in Sokoto State mistakenly targeted two villages, killing at least 10 people and injuring several others. The airstrike, intended to target terrorists in the Lakurawa area, hit Gidan Sama and Rumtuwa communities in Silame Local Government Area.
In a related development, the Nigerian Army provided free medical services to over 5,000 residents of Gidan Gabas, in the Dange/Shuni Local Government Area of Sokoto State, as part of the Armed Forces Remembrance Day activities. Maj. Gen. Ibikunke Ajose, General Officer Commanding the 8th Division, spoke at the ceremony, noting that the initiative reflected the Army’s dedication to social responsibility and providing relief to underserved communities. The medical team, with sufficient supplies, was ready to offer care to those in need, particularly in rural areas like Gidan Gabas.
