The Nigerian Air Force expressed regret today, Sunday, over an airstrike that resulted in the deaths of dozens of civilians and injuries to others a year ago, marking its first admission of responsibility for the incident that Reuters investigated. Witnesses, local leaders, and detailed complaints indicated that dozens of Fulani herdsmen were killed in the airstrike that occurred in January 2023 in Nasarawa State, central Nigeria, while they were unloading livestock that had been recovered from authorities in a neighboring state.
In a rare acknowledgment of responsibility, the Air Force stated that its Chief of Staff, Marshal Hassan Abubakar, visited the affected areas earlier this week after reviewing reports related to the incident. The Nigerian Air Force stated in a press release: "Innocent civilians may have been killed or injured accidentally in this operation." The statement added: "While expressing his regret over the incident, Marshal Abubakar noted that the unfortunate incident was unintentional," explaining that it "targeted suspected terrorists and cattle thieves due to the high level of insecurity in the region at that time."
