September 30, (THEWILL) – Ten months after the Nigerian army mistakenly bombed 85 villagers on December 3, 2023, in Tudun Biri Village, Kaduna State, another controversy is brewing again over a military airstrike that the Nigerian Air Force (NAF) claimed was targeted at terrorists and their logistics at the weekend following credible intelligence.
However, the Jika da Kolo community in Yadin Kidandan, Giwa Local Government Area of Kaduna State, claimed the NAF mistakenly bombed the community, killing villagers, including 23 worshippers, at a mosque during the operation.
The Councillor representing the area, Abdullahi Ismail, told newsmen that among the victims were farmers and children who were at the community mosque.
“The strike disfigured the bodies of most of those affected. 23 mutilated bodies were gathered from the scene and had been buried according to Islamic rites. We gathered the body parts of 23 people who were identified by relatives, including children and they have been buried.
“Of course, Yadin Kidandan is a danger zone because it is under the control of bandits. But there are also innocent villagers who still live around there because they have no other place to go just like the casualties that we witnessed on Friday.
“So, we discovered that when the strike occurred, most of the people at the mosque died. It was a crowded place because there was a local market close to the mosque, which was also affected. The incident happened around 2pm,” he said.
The community called on the Federal and Kaduna State Governments to investigate the incident.
Meanwhile, the Nigerian Air Force (NAF) has disagreed with the villagers, insisting that the operation was carried out based on credible intelligence indicating a significant presence of terrorists and their weapons cache in the Yadi Forest.
Insisting there was no mosque in the area, NAF Deputy Director, Public Relations and Information, Group Captain Kabiru Ali, said, “Intensive intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance confirmed the consistent presence of terrorists and their motorcycles at the location. Additional intelligence revealed that the logistics base belonged to the notorious terrorist kingpin Kadade Gurgu, a close ally of Dogo Gide.
“Furthermore, available intelligence at the disposal of the NAF Air Component revealed that Kadade Gurgu has been providing shelter for notorious terrorist kingpins following the aggressive military operations in Sokoto and Zamfara states.
“Accordingly, the Air Component dispatched an aircraft, supported by an Intelligence, Surveillance and Reconnaissance (ISR) platform, to attack the target. The target area initially appeared uninhabited. However, as the aircraft approached, some of the terrorists were seen emerging from under the shrubbery and running away from the area.
“Subsequently, the targets were engaged, recording successful hits on the logistics facility, which was engulfed in flames, with thick black smoke seen.
“Reports from independent sources, including local informants around the general area, later confirmed that the logistics base was totally destroyed and scores of terrorists were killed as a result of the attack.
“The Nigerian Air Force, in collaboration with surface forces, will continue to dominate the battlespace through extensive situational awareness, constant patrols, and targeted interdiction of bandits’ safe havens within its area of responsibility and neighbouring states. The aim is to decimate and flush out terrorism and criminal activities within the North-west and North-central geopolitical zones,” he said.
