NAF probes Kaduna airstrike, insists only terrorists were killed

The Nigerian Air Force says it will launch a thorough investigation into the raining of airstrikes on the enclave of terrorists in Kaduna State, on Friday.

Witnesses had told Daily Trust how some innocent villagers were killed in the incident.

Daily Trust had on Monday reported how residents of Jika da Kolo village of Yadin Kidandan in Giwa Local Government Area of Kaduna State alleged that the victims of the strike included 23 worshippers at a mosque and others at a market.

But responding to the publication, NAF’s Deputy Director of Public Relations and Information, Kabiru Ali, explained that the location has been notorious to be terrorists’ enclave for over 2 years.

Ali, a Group Captain in the force, stated that the successful airstrike would no doubt go a long way in minimising banditry, kidnapping and similar attacks on innocent civilians in Kaduna State and environs.

He said, “The attention of the Nigerian Air Force has been drawn to reports of alleged civilian casualties following the successful airstrike on a terrorist enclave in Giwa LGA of Kaduna State.

“The airstrike on the location was based on credible intelligence from numerous reliable sources, as well as confirmatory surveillance of the target area before the strike.

“The said location has been notorious as a terrorist enclave for over 2 years and the successful airstrike would no doubt go a long way in minimizing banditry, kidnapping and similar attacks on innocent civilians in Kaduna State and environs.

“Nevertheless, the NAF is not taking these allegations lightly, as its focus is to always achieve the desired operational objective without collateral damage.

“Accordingly, a thorough investigation is currently ongoing to ascertain the facts with a view to keeping the populace informed in due course.”