A tragic incident has reportedly occurred in Katsina State, Northwest Nigeria, as an airstrike by the Nigerian Air Force allegedly led to multiple casualties. The incident happened in Shawu village, located in Ruwan Godiya district, Faskari Local Government Area, on Thursday morning.
Eyewitness Account
An eyewitness reported that the airstrike was aimed at bandits operating in the area but mistakenly struck the community. While the exact number of casualties remains unclear, several lives have been lost, and many others injured.
A Katsina resident, Salihu Bamle Bakatsine, shared the news on his X handle, stating:
“Moments ago, the Nigerian Air Force mistakenly bombarded Shawu community. Several people are now confirmed dead, and many others injured.
“Shawu community is under Ruwan Godiya district, Faskari LGA, Katsina State. May the Almighty have mercy on those who lost their lives, grant healing to the injured, and bring ease in the future.”
Government’s Position
However, the Katsina State Commissioner for Internal Security, Dr. Nasiru Mu’azu, disputed claims of an accidental bombing. He insisted the strike was deliberate and targeted at terrorists.
“Whoever said the attack was accidental lied. The bomb was dropped on purpose, with terrorists as the target,” Mu’azu stated.
“The Nigerian military conducts its operations with utmost professionalism, ensuring proper surveillance and target coordination before any strike. Shawu is known for harbouring bandits, which is why it was targeted,” he added.
Local Government’s Reaction
Musa Ado Faskari, Chairman of Faskari Local Government Council, echoed the commissioner’s sentiments, describing the strike as necessary.
“The airstrike was precise because bandits had infiltrated the community,” he said.
When questioned about the impact on innocent residents, Faskari admitted:
“It’s unfortunate, but there’s no alternative to this. Most law-abiding citizens had already fled Shawu due to the heavy presence of bandits.”
He further revealed that Shawu had become a hub for planning kidnapping-for-ransom operations in the region.
“Whenever kidnappings occur, Shawu is often implicated as the base of such operations,” he explained.
Casualties
On the number of casualties, the local council chairman confirmed four deaths while noting that efforts are ongoing to determine the exact number of injured persons.
“As of now, four deaths have been recorded, and we are still sorting out details regarding the wounded,” Faskari added.
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