Nigerian Air Force denies bombing party guests in Niger state

The Nigerian Air Force (NAF) has denied bombing party guests in Niger state, describing the claims as an attempt to discredit its efforts and those of other military services.

Nigerian Air Force Alpha Jet was said in multiple reports to have shelled a wedding venue, killing some wedding guests at a remote community in Niger State.

PRNigeria reported that the airstrike in which some armed bandits and cattle rustlers were killed took place at Genu town in Niger State, adding that “One of the bombs allegedly strayed at a wedding party in an adjoining village.”

“We saw the small aircraft dropping bombs from afar on the location of fleeing bandits and one of the explosives hit a wedding event in Argida Village.

“Two villagers were also killed, unfortunately. We gathered that several others, who were guests at the wedding feast, sustain injuries,” PRNigeria reported citing a witness.

The Nigerian Air Force (NAF) has now denied the claims, stating that if the authors were not determined to ‘blackmail’ the military, they would have asked themselves why a sane mind would host a wedding party in a dangerous place like a forest.

Edward Gabkwet, NAF’s Director Public Relations and Information, in a statement on Sunday said

“If indeed, a wedding party was hit, the question that should have been asked is, ‘Why would a wedding party be held in a forested area with a high concentration of banditry activities?”

“It is clear that recent coordinate activities of the NAF, alongside the Nigerian Army and other security agents is yielding the expected result and obviously, some people are out to discredit these efforts. But be rest assured that we will not succumb to any blackmail.

“The NAF shall continue to hit the locations of these criminals until we flush them out of the entire area and peace and security is fully restored”.