The Chief of the Air Staff (CAS), Air Marshal Hasan Abubakar, has dispatched a fact-finding team to Zamfara State to fully investigate the incident of civilian casualties recorded in NAF airstrikes against terrorists and provide a detailed report for further action.
A statement by the NAF spokesman, Air Vice Marshal Olusola Akinboyewa, said the decision followed public outcry over alleged civilian casualties in recent airstrikes launched against terrorists in Zamfara State.
He said the team, led by the Director of Coordination and Cooperation (DCC) in the Civil-Military Relations Branch of NAF Headquarters, Air Vice Marshal Edward Gabkwet, is to liaise and interface with State and local government officials as well as all other critical stakeholders, for a holistic assessment of the situation with a view to driving the appropriate response.
He reiterated the NAF’s commitment to the highest level of professionalism and transparency in the conduct of operations, in line with appropriate global standards.
He said, “our absolute value for the life and well-being of every Nigerian remains an integral part of the ethos of the Service, as we sustain the effort to defeat all threats to our nation’s peace, security and prosperity.”
“Mindful also of the need to maintain public trust, which is germane to our operational effectiveness, we enjoin all stakeholders to rest assured that the NAF will continue to refine its operational procedures to ensure mission accomplishment, while protecting civilians and civilian infrastructure,” the statement added.