The Nigerian Air Force (NAF) has refuted claims that 16 civilians were killed during an airstrike aimed at insurgents in Tungar Kara, Maradun LGA, Zamfara State.
Reports from a counter-insurgency publication, Zagazola Makama, had suggested that members of the Zamfara Community Protection Guard (ZCPG), vigilantes, and residents were mistakenly targeted after fleeing the scene of an earlier attack by bandits.
The publication reported that 16 bodies had been retrieved, though the total number of casualties remained unclear.
The report noted, “So far, 16 dead bodies have been retrieved, but the total number of casualties is not yet clear.”
However, NAF’s Director of Public Relations and Information, Olusola Akinboyewa, dismissed the claims, stating that there was no evidence of civilian casualties. He emphasized that the Air Force takes every precaution to minimize harm to civilians during operations.
He articulated, “The air force employs every possible measure to prevent, minimise and mitigate harm to civilians in the conduct of operations.
“The reports might be emanating from terrorists and their sympathisers as a way of discrediting the military with propaganda, seeing they are now increasingly on the receiving end”.
Akinboyewa said there was no credible report of civilian casualties and that the airstrikes were based on reliable intelligence.
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He stated, “Nevertheless, please remain assured that the Nigerian Air Force (NAF) operations against bandits, terrorists and other similar threats are conducted based on credible, reliable intel drawn form multiple verifiable sources and subject to further confirmatory analysis.
“The air component of Operation Fansan Yamma carried out the airstrikes in question to repel ongoing bandit attacks on villages in the area.
“As of date, we have not received any credible reports of civilian casualties being involved in this instance. As events unfold, members of the public would be kept informed as might become necessary,” he added.
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