The Nigerian Air Force (NAF) has admitted its responsibility for a deadly airstrike on the village of Kwatiri in Nasarawa, according to a report by Human Rights Watch (HRW).
In January 2023, TheCable reported that at least 27 people were killed in the airstrike.
The Miyetti Allah Cattle Breeders Association of Nigeria (MACBAN) stated that the airstrike occurred after herders attempted to reclaim 1,250 cows seized by the Benue livestock guards.
A day after the incident, Nasarawa Governor Abdullahi Sule denied that a NAF aircraft was responsible for the explosion in Kwatiri. He claimed that no air force plane had flown through the area and suggested that the bombing was carried out by an unidentified drone.
Nearly six months later, the HRW report revealed that the NAF had provided minimal information regarding the incident.
The human rights organization criticized the military for its unacceptable delay in acknowledging the killing of dozens of civilians, which only compounded the tragedy of the attack.
The report called on the NAF to provide financial compensation to the victims and families of those affected.
“In response to an inquiry from Human Rights Watch, the Nigerian Air Force admitted for the first time to carrying out the airstrike,” the report stated.
“The air force claimed that it conducted the airstrike in response to suspected terrorist activities but provided no details.”
The report quoted a response from Air Commodore D. D. Pwajok on behalf of the chief of air staff, stating that the airstrike was based on credible intelligence and carried out in collaboration with other security forces and agencies in Nasarawa state.
The letter, however, failed to address crucial questions, such as how the suspected threat was assessed and verified, whether efforts were made to identify the targets, or if any precautions were taken to minimize harm to civilians.
The lack of specific details raises concerns about whether the airstrike was conducted solely on suspicion. The letter concluded by stating that the Nigerian Air Force is committed to upholding human rights and is open to further discussions on the matter.
Since 2017, over 300 people have reportedly been killed in airstrikes conducted by the Nigerian Air Force, which claimed to be targeting bandits or Boko Haram terrorists.