Zamfara State Governor, Dauda Lawal, has backed the assertion of the Nigerian military that the recent airstrike that hit the Tungar Kara community in the Maradun local government area of the state on January 11, where over 16 residents were killed was not intentional.
Ripples Nigeria had reported how the airstrike by the Nigeria Air Force had mistakenly struck the community while trying to attack a base identified to be occupied by bandits.
While there was public outcry over the airstrike which came barely weeks after a similar incident of accidental strike in Ruwan Godiya district, Faskari local government area of Katsina State where a number of civilians were killed, the military authorities came out with a statement that it was not an intentional hit on the community.
Lawal, who also absorbed the military during an interview programme on Channels Television’s Politics Today on Wednesday night, said the Air Force couldn’t have deliberately targeted the community.
“It was not intentional. It was in the process of fighting these bandits that they were struck,” Lawal insisted.
“The Chief of Air Staff has set up a committee to commiserate with the state government as well as the people that were affected. They also went there yesterday to do on the spot assessment to see who was involved and what happened to guide against future occurrence,” he stated.
The governor added that he was aware of the military operation before the tragedy occurred, saying that he personally invited the Air Force to neutralise some bandits who were attacking the area.
He further expressed hopes that the military has all the capacity to tackle bandits activities within one month, while reiterating that the days of notorious bandits leader, Bello Turji, are numbered, emphasizing that he was sure they would soon be eliminated.