The Nigerian Air Force (NAF) has paid compensation to victims and families affected by the accidental airstrike of December 25, 2024, in Gidan Bisa and Rumtuwa communities of Silame Local Government Area, Sokoto State.
Speaking on behalf of the Chief of the Air Staff (CAS), Air Marshal Sunday Aneke, the Chief of Civil-Military Relations, Air Vice Marshal Edward Gabkwet, said the payment followed a fact-finding investigation conducted under Operation Fasan Yamma.
Gabkwet said intelligence available at the time indicated the movement of suspected terrorists in the area, but a petition submitted in April 2025 prompted a further review of the incident.
The investigation, he said, confirmed that 13 civilians were unintentionally killed, while eight others sustained injuries during the air operation.
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According to him, the compensation exercise was aimed at acknowledging the harm caused, promoting accountability and providing closure to the affected families and communities. He added that mitigating civilian harm remains a core priority under the current NAF leadership.
Gabkwet also disclosed that the Air Force has developed a Civilian Harm Mitigation and Response Action Plan to strengthen operational planning, investigation processes and response mechanisms whenever civilian casualties occur.
The NAF urged residents to avoid association with terrorists and bandits, warning that proximity to criminal elements increases the risk of civilian casualties during military operations.
It reaffirmed its commitment to protecting civilians while sustaining operations against terrorism, banditry and kidnapping across the country.
Sokoto State Governor, Ahmed Aliyu, commended the Air Force for the compensation and its continued support for security operations in the state.
