The Defence Headquarters (DHQ) has said that the two military personnel linked to the airstrike that killed civilians at Tudun Biri, in Kaduna State recently would be court-martialed.
According to an update by the Director of Defence Media Operation on Thursday, Major General Edward Buba, the military said the outcome of investigations into the incident indicated that it shouldn’t have happened.
General Buba recalled that synchronised strikes between the ground and air forces in April resulted in the killing of over 715 terrorists in the incident.
He said that the military had conducted a comprehensive investigation into the incident and had initiated disciplinary actions against the culprits.
“Accordingly, the affected two personnel are to face a court martial for acts of omission or commission with respect to the incident. It, therefore, would be adjudged as prejudicial to speak further on the case, since it is before a court,” he said.
“Nevertheless, it must be made clear that the incident was a mistake. The victims of the strike were mistaken for terrorists. However, on this note, on behalf of the CDS, officers and personnel of the AFN, our condolences go to the families and loved ones of all those killed by the sad air strike,” Gen Buba said.
He assured that there would be no repeat of strikes on non-combatants in ongoing operations. He concluded that the military would take extra precautions in future to ensure the safety of non-combatants.
He added that troops also arrested 146 outlaws and rescued no fewer than 465 kidnapped hostages, within the period under review.
Gen Buba, who said this on Thursday during the biweekly briefing on the activities of the military and other security agencies, also revealed that troops recovered 937 assorted weapons, 23,034 assorted ammunition and denied the oil thieves of over N2 billion only.
Others, he said, are 2,563,335 litres of stolen crude oil, 254,620 litres of illegally refined AGO, 1,050 litres of DPK and 8,000 litres of PMS amongst other item.
He said: “Air assets conducted aggressive air flights during the period under review. Upon confirmation of terrorist presence and the movement of terrorist commanders and their foot soldiers. The targets are acquired and fighter jets scrambled to carry out major bombarding raids on significant terrorist enclaves. The terrorist leaders enclave engaged include that of terrorist Nasanda and his loyalist in Zurmi LGA of Katsina State. Also, on 13 April 2024, three senior terrorist commanders (Ali Dawud, Bakura Fallujah and Mallam Ari) were neutralized at Kolleram Village along Lake Chad.
“Additionally, on 15 April 2024, the enclave of terrorist commander Babaru in Kankara LGA of Katsina State was destroyed. Similarly, on 19 Apr 24, the terrorist hideout belonging to a senior terrorist commander Kamilu Buzaru in Danmusa LGA of Katsina State was decimated. Then, On 20 April 2024, the gathering of senior terrorist commanders Ado Ailero and Kamilu Buzaru’s in Danmusa LGA of Katsina State was disrupted by air strikes. Several terrorist combatants and the Commanders were neutralized in the air strikes.
“Other terrorist Commanders engaged by air strikes include that of Mallam Yadee at Mariga LGA of Niger State. Then, the Enclave of Abdullahi Nasanda and Mallam Tukur in Zurmi and Gusau LGAs of Zamfara State. Thereafter, is the Enclave of Mallam Umar and several other commanders located in the Alawa Forest area of Niger State. Furthermore is Bello Turji’s Camp in Kagara Forest located between Shinkafi in Zamfara and Isa LGA in Sokoto. All the surviving terrorist Commanders and leaders are walking corpses as we would get them, sooner than later”.
He concluded that the armed forces are building and maintaining the momentum against the terrorist and their cohorts across the country.
