Zamfara air strike civilian deaths not intentional, says Dauda Lawal
At least 16 residents, including vigilantes were accidentally bombed on January 11 in Tungar Kara, Maradun LGA of Zamfara.
By Idris Temidayo
Dauda Lawal, the governor of Zamfara, says the recent military air strike in the state that killed some civilians was not intentional.
Speaking on Channels Television’s Politics Today on Wednesday, Lawal defended the military operations in the state, noting that air strikes hit the civilians in the process of fighting the bandits.
At least 16 residents, including vigilantes were accidentally bombed on January 11 in Tungar Kara, Maradun LGA of Zamfara.
While the Nigerian Air Force (NAF) initially denied any civilian death during the operation, the state government insisted there were casualties.
Responding to the development, the Zamfara governor said he was aware of the military operation before the tragedy occurred.
Lawal added that he personally invited the air force to neutralise some bandits who were attacking the area.
“It was not intentional. It was in the process of fighting these bandits (that) they were struck,” he said.
“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 expressed confidence that the military has all the capacity to tackle bandits’ activities within one month.
The governor said the days of notorious bandits’ leader, Bello Turji, are numbered, saying he would soon be eliminated just as other top bandits have been neutralised.
