Deadly Airstrike in Kaduna: Locals Say 23 Innocent Lives Lost, Air Force Insists Target was Terrorists

Tragedy Strikes Kaduna State: Nigerian Air Force Accused of Bombing Civilians.

A devastating airstrike has left at least 23 people dead in Jika da Kolo, Yadin Kidandan, Kaduna State, with villagers alleging that the Nigerian Air Force (NAF) mistakenly targeted their community during an anti-terrorist operation. The victims included worshippers at a mosque and people at a nearby market, according to Tribune.

The NAF, however, disputes this claim, maintaining that the operation targeted a terrorist logistics base in Yadi Forest based on credible intelligence. Group Captain Kabiru Ali, NAF’s Deputy Director, Public Relations and Information, stated that independent sources confirmed the destruction of the logistics base and the killing of scores of terrorists.

Residents vehemently counter this narrative, insisting that the victims were mostly civilians. A villager recounted the horrors of the attack, describing how the strike disfigured the bodies of most of those affected, with 23 mutilated bodies gathered from the scene and buried according to Islamic rites.

The area’s councillor, Abdullahi Ismail, confirmed the incident, acknowledging that Yadin Kidandan is a danger zone under bandit control, but also home to innocent villagers who have nowhere else to go. A survivor described the traumatic experience, hearing the plane arrive, dropping something, and then a loud sound, followed by family members recognizing their relatives’ bodies for the funeral.

The villagers are now urging the federal and Kaduna State governments to investigate the incident, pleading for accountability and protection. “It is a difficult moment for us,” said local resident Malam.

In defense of the operation, Group Captain Ali emphasized that the airstrikes targeted terrorists based on intelligence reports, with intensive surveillance confirming their presence at the location. The NAF, in collaboration with ground forces, vows to continue operations to eliminate terrorism in the North-west and North-central zones.

This tragic incident raises concerns about the effectiveness and accountability of Nigeria’s anti-terrorist operations, highlighting the need for thorough investigations and protection of civilian lives.