Kaduna Airstrike: 23 Worshippers, Others Reportedly Killed

Residents of Jika da Kolo, a community in Yadin Kidandan, Giwa Local Government Area of Kaduna State, have alleged that a Nigerian Air Force (NAF) aircraft, while targeting terrorists over the weekend, mistakenly bombed their village, resulting in the deaths of more than 25 people.

According to local accounts, 23 of the victims were worshippers at a mosque, while others were in a nearby market when the incident occurred. However, the Nigerian Air Force has disputed these claims, maintaining that the airstrike was aimed at a terrorist hideout in the Yadi Forest and was based on credible intelligence.

The villagers, who are mourning the loss of farmers and children among the dead, recounted that the airstrike disfigured many of the victims’ bodies. “We gathered body parts of 23 people, including children, who were later buried according to Islamic rites,” a local resident reported. Witnesses said the attack occurred around 2 p.m. and involved an explosion near a mosque that was close to a bustling local market.

While acknowledging the presence of terrorists in the area, local councillor Abdullahi Ismail confirmed that innocent villagers also inhabit the region because they have no other safe place to relocate. A survivor, speaking anonymously, described the chaotic scene: “We heard the plane, then an explosion. When the dust settled, we found many dead, including farmers and children who had gathered near the mosque.”

The villagers are calling on both the Federal and Kaduna State governments to investigate the incident, emphasizing that most residents remain in the area due to a lack of alternatives.

In response, NAF’s Deputy Director of Public Relations and Information, Group Captain Kabiru Ali, firmly denied the villagers’ allegations, asserting that no mosque was present in the targeted area. He explained that the airstrike was directed at a terrorist logistics base, which was confirmed by both local informants and intelligence surveillance. According to Ali, the site belonged to Kadade Gurgu, a known terrorist leader, and the strike successfully destroyed the logistics facility, killing numerous terrorists.

Ali further detailed that the airstrike was part of a broader military operation aimed at neutralizing terrorist networks across the North-West and North-Central regions. “The Nigerian Air Force, in coordination with ground forces, will continue to maintain control of the area through surveillance, targeted strikes, and interdiction of bandit hideouts,” he stated.

The villagers, still reeling from the tragedy, are awaiting further clarification as tensions between the military’s efforts to combat terrorism and civilian safety continue to mount.

This article is sourced from The Nigerian Tribune newspaper, with minor edits and adaptations by The Spectacles for clarity and readability.