The Nigerian Air Force (NAF) has expressed regret over a strike that killed dozens of civilians and injured others in January 2023, accepting for the first time its responsibility for the incident.
The strike targeted a group of ethnic Fulani herders in central Nasarawa state, who were unloading cattle they had recovered from authorities in a neighboring state. According to witnesses, local leaders, and detailed complaints, the herders were mistaken for terrorists and cattle rustlers by the NAF.
The NAF said its chief of air staff, Air Marshal Hasan Abubakar, visited the affected communities over the weekend, after reviewing reports of the incident. He apologised to the victims and their families and said the strike was not deliberate, but based on the heightened level of insecurity in the area at the time.
The NAF’s admission of responsibility is rare, as it usually does not address the civilian casualties of its operations. The NAF is involved in a war with Islamist insurgents in the northeast, as well as other criminal activities such as banditry in other regions.
The NAF, which is backed by the United States and other Western powers, has faced criticism for its lack of transparency and accountability in its use of force. In November 2023, at least 85 civilians were killed in northern Kaduna state following an army drone attack targeting insurgents and bandits. President Bola Tinubu ordered a thorough investigation, the outcome of which is expected later this year.
The NAF said meeting with representatives of victims of the 2023 strike “will assist in answering some important questions, promote accountability, transparency” and prevent similar incidents in the future. However, it did not mention any compensation or legal action for the victims.
The NAF’s statement was welcomed by a local community leader, Sidi Bage Muhammed, who said: “We have wholeheartedly accepted your apology.” He also urged the NAF to improve its intelligence and coordination with local authorities, to avoid harming innocent civilians.
The 2023 strike was one of the deadliest incidents of civilian harm by the NAF in recent years. According to the Nigeria Security Tracker, a project of the Council on Foreign Relations, the NAF was responsible for 149 civilian deaths and 32 injuries between January 2023 and January 2024.
The strike also highlighted the plight of the Fulani herders, who are often caught in the crossfire of conflicts between farmers and pastoralists, as well as security forces and armed groups. The Fulani, who are mainly Muslim, have been accused of being linked to Islamist militants, such as Boko Haram and Islamic State West Africa Province (ISWAP).
However, the Fulani have also been victims of violence and discrimination, as they face land disputes, environmental degradation, and ethnic tensions. According to Amnesty International, more than 3,600 people, mostly Fulani herders, were killed in clashes between farmers and herders in Nigeria between 2016 and 2019.
The Nigerian government has been trying to address the root causes of the violence, by implementing policies such as the National Livestock Transformation Plan, which aims to modernize the livestock sector and reduce conflicts over land and resources. The government has also been engaging in dialogue and reconciliation efforts with various stakeholders, including the Fulani community.
The NAF’s apology and acknowledgment of the 2023 strike could be seen as a positive step towards building trust and peace among the affected communities. It could also serve as an example for other security agencies to follow, to uphold human rights and the rule of law in their operations.
Source: Reuters
