The Nigerian Air Force (NAF) has donated cash assistance and a solar-powered borehole to victims of the September 2021 accidental airstrike in Buhari Village, Yunusari Local Government Area of Yobe.

Air Commodore Ecomo U. U. Idris, the Air Component commander, Joint Task Force (North-East) Operation Hadin Kai, disclosed this on Saturday in Damaturu while presenting the donation on behalf of the Chief of the Air Staff, Air Marshal Hasan Abubakar.

Mr Idris said the NAF headquarters approved the donation as part of efforts to support the affected families and mitigate the impact of the unfortunate incident.

He explained that the 2021 bombing, which claimed eight lives and injured 30 people, was accidental, stressing that it occurred while troops targeted an insurgents’ enclave within the area.

“This incident was not intentional. It was a mistake that happened during an operation targeting criminal elements in the area,” Mr Idris said.

He reaffirmed NAF’s commitment to maintaining high standards of civilian harm mitigation, stating that every operation was guided by strict rules of engagement to prevent harm to non-combatants.

Mr Idris commended Gov. Mai Mala Buni for facilitating the engagement between NAF and the victims’ families, adding that the service would continue to work with the state government to sustain peace and security in the region.

Mr Idris prayed for the repose of the souls of the victims and reaffirmed NAF’s resolve to deepen community engagement in all its operational areas across the North-East. 

Also speaking, retired Brig.-Gen. Dahiru Abdulsalam, special adviser to the governor on security matters, said the Yobe government had earlier supported the victims with medical care and logistics immediately after the 2021 incident.

He described the gesture by NAF as a demonstration of empathy and responsibility, adding that the air strike, though regrettable, was a consequence of the complex nature of counter-insurgency warfare in the North-East.

Mr Abdulsalam said the NAF headquarters approved a compensation of N1million each for the families of deceased victims and N500,000 each for those who sustained injuries.

He added that a solar-powered borehole would be constructed in Guro-Buhari to provide clean water for the residents as part of NAF’s quick-impact community projects.

“The victims’ names had been verified and authenticated by the Office of the Attorney-General and the NAF headquarters to ensure transparency.

“There will be no proxy collection,” Mr Abdulsalam said.

He urged the residents of the community to continue cooperating with the security agencies to ensure lasting peace and the final defeat of insurgents in the region. 

(NAN)