According to Human Rights Watch (HRW), the Nigerian Air Force admits to carrying out an airstrike that killed 39 civilians in Nasarawa state.
According to the report, the NAF has now accepted responsibility for the tragic bombing on Kwatiri, a Nasarawa hamlet.
Remember that at least 27 people were reportedly killed as a result of the airstrike in January 2023.
According to the Miyetti Allah Cattle Breeders Association of Nigeria (MACBAN), the airstrike occurred after the herders attempted to retrieve 1,250 of their cows that had been detained by Benue livestock guards.
A day after the tragedy, Nasarawa Governor Abdullahi Sule stated that the explosion at Kwatiri was not carried out by a NAF aircraft.
According to him, investigations indicated that “no air force plane flew through the area,” and that the bombing was carried out by a drone whose operators had yet to be identified.
The HRW investigation indicated that NAF had supplied scant information on the event nearly six months after it occurred.
According to the human rights organization, the military’s unconscionable delay in admitting to the slaughter of scores of civilians just adds to the tragedy of the attack.
According to the study, NAF should compensate victims and their families financially.
“In response to a Human Rights Watch inquiry, the Nigerian air force admitted for the first time to carrying out the airstrike.”
“It stated that it was part of Operation Whirl Stroke, a joint military, police, and Department of State Security operation deployed in response to security issues in and around Nasarawa state.”
“The air force claimed it carried out the airstrike in response to suspected terrorist activities, but provided no details,” according to the report.
“In a response issued on May 17, Air Commodore D. D. Pwajok acknowledged, on behalf of the chief of air staff, that the air force carried out the strike based on credible intelligence and in collaboration with other security forces and agencies in Nasarawa state.”
“According to the letter, air force surveillance footage showed the movement of suspected terrorists converged around a truck suspected of being a logistics vehicle, which arrived at the location late at night and was determined to be a target for the airstrike.”
“The letter did not answer key questions, such as how information about the suspected threat was considered and verified, whether efforts were made to investigate and verify the identity of those targeted, or whether any assessment was conducted prior to the airstrike to avoid or mitigate civilian harm.”
“The lack of details raises the question of whether the air force carried out the airstrike on suspicion alone.” The letter continued, “The Nigerian Air Force is committed to human rights and welcomes further discussion on the subject.”
Since 2017, around 300 civilians have been reported killed by airstrikes claimed by the Nigerian air force to be targeting bandits or Boko Haram insurgents.
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