Villagers, NAF differ as airstrike kills scores in Kaduna

The residents of Jika da Kolo village of Yadin Kidandan in Giwa Local Government Area of Kaduna State and the Nigerian Air Force on Monday differed on the killing of scores of persons in an airstrike in the area on Friday.

While the villagers alleged that the victims included 23 worshippers at a mosque and others at a market in the area, the NAF claimed that the airstrike was only rained on the logistics base of terrorists.

According to the Air Force authority, the scores of terrorists killed were not in a mosque in the area.

However, it was learnt that the victims included farmers and children who had gathered around the mosque that day.

The latest incident was said to be akin to the December 3, 2023, Air Force bomb attack at Tudun Biri in the same Kaduna State, which killed about 100 people.

The councillor representing the area, Abdullahi Ismail, also confirmed the incident, describing the area as a danger zone because of the activities of the bandits.

But NAF’s Deputy Director, Public Relations and Information, Group Captain Kabiru Ali, stated last night that the airstrikes were only rained on the logistics base of terrorists.

Ali, who said there was no mosque in the area, shared pictorial evidence of how the location was before and after the operation.

He said the operation was carried out following credible intelligence indicating a huge presence of terrorists and their weapons cache in the Yadi Forest.

He said reports from independent sources, including local informants around the general area, confirmed that the logistics base was totally destroyed and scores of terrorists were killed as a result of the attack.

He 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.

He added that 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,” he added.