General Christopher Musa, Nigeria’s defense chief, announced on Tuesday that the findings of an inquiry into a military drone strike, resulting in the death of at least 85 civilians in northern Kaduna state in November, will be disclosed by the month’s end.
In response to the incident, President Bola Tinubu mandated a comprehensive investigation, as the drone strike, initially targeting insurgents and bandits, tragically claimed the lives of innocent civilians.
Nigeria faces escalating security challenges in its northwest and central regions, with armed criminal groups engaging in violent activities such as indiscriminate shootings in villages and large-scale kidnappings. Simultaneously, the military is actively countering an Islamist insurgency in the northeast.
“We are here to protect innocent citizens, not to attack them. There was a mistake, and we are addressing such issues,” General Musa told reporters in Abuja.
The defense chief assured reporters that the investigation reports were complete and would likely be made public before the end of the month, despite encountering some delays, particularly in obtaining accurate casualty information.
Highlighting the country’s effort to enhance its defense capabilities, General Musa revealed Nigeria’s pursuit of domestic weapons manufacturing. This move comes as some nations have been hesitant to supply armaments due to concerns about human rights issues, although specific countries were not mentioned.
Furthermore, General Musa disclosed that the Niger Republic had withdrawn its troops from the Multinational Joint Task Force (MNJTF), comprising forces from Benin, Cameroon, Chad, and Nigeria.
The withdrawal signifies the Niger Republic’s decision to focus on securing its own borders independently, affecting the regional initiative aimed at quelling the insurgency that has resulted in numerous casualties and displacements.
