NAF compensates victims of Sokoto air strike, reaffirms commitment to civilian harm mitigation

The Nigerian Air Force (NAF) has paid compensation to victims and families affected by the accidental air strike that occurred on December 25, 2024, in Gidan Bisa and Rumtuwa villages of Silame Local Government Area, Sokoto State, as part of efforts to foster healing, accountability, and strengthened civil–military relations.

Delivering the message of the Chief of the Air Staff (CAS), Air Marshal Sunday Kelvin Aneke, the Chief of Civil–Military Relations, Air Vice Marshal Edward Gabkwet, expressed appreciation to the Executive Governor of Sokoto State, Ahmed Aliyu Sokoto, for the warm reception accorded the Air Force delegation and for the enduring partnership between the Nigerian Air Force and the government and people of the state.

Speaking on behalf of the CAS, Air Vice Marshal Gabkwet praised Governor Aliyu’s inclusive development policies and security initiatives under the state’s 9-Point Smart Agenda, particularly the establishment of the Sokoto State Community Guards Corps.

He noted that the Governor’s proactive and community-focused security measures have complemented federal efforts in tackling terrorism and banditry, leading to improved safety in parts of the state and highlighting the importance of robust civil–military cooperation.

In his remarks, Governor Ahmed Aliyu Sokoto expressed deep appreciation to the Nigerian Air Force for its steadfast commitment to protecting citizens and its continued role in safeguarding Nigeria’s security and territorial integrity.

Recounting the circumstances surrounding the incident, the CAS explained that the air strikes were conducted under Operation Fasan Yamma following intelligence reports indicating the movement of suspected armed terrorists through the affected communities.

Although the operation was based on multiple intelligence checks, a petition received in April 2025 alleged that civilians were harmed during the strike.

“A thorough fact-finding investigation confirmed that 13 civilians were unintentionally killed, while eight others sustained varying degrees of injuries,” the CAS disclosed, adding that the findings deeply saddened the Service and made it necessary to take urgent steps to make amends.

Air Marshal Aneke, through his representative, stressed that since assuming office on October 24, 2025, civilian harm mitigation has remained central to his Command Philosophy.

“The Nigerian Air Force exists primarily to protect the lives and property of Nigerians. No professional military deliberately harms the very people it is sworn to defend,” he said.

He explained that the compensation exercise was aimed at commiserating with victims and their families, promoting accountability and transparency, easing tensions within the affected communities, and providing closure, while also enabling the Service to draw lessons to further reduce the risk of similar incidents in the future.

The CAS further disclosed that the NAF has continued to institutionalise measures to prevent and respond to civilian harm, including the development of the Nigerian Air Force Civilian Harm Mitigation and Response Action Plan (NAF CHMR-AP).

According to him, the framework is designed to strengthen operational planning, improve assessments and investigations, enhance continuous learning, and ensure timely and effective responses whenever civilian harm occurs.

He added that the plan is scalable and applicable across both kinetic and non-kinetic operations, with the protection and restoration of the civilian environment treated as a critical operational consideration.

While reaffirming the NAF’s resolve to apply precise and purposeful force in neutralising terrorists and other criminal elements, the Air Force appealed to citizens to avoid mingling or cohabiting with terrorists and bandits within their communities, warning that such associations significantly increase the risk of collateral damage during military operations.

The Nigerian Air Force reiterated that public cooperation remains essential to safeguarding innocent lives as security operations intensify nationwide.

In collaboration with other security agencies, the NAF reaffirmed its commitment to ending terrorism, banditry, cattle rustling, and kidnapping in Sokoto State, across the wider North-West region, and throughout Nigeria.