The Nigerian Air Force (NAF) on
Monday said the bombing of Rann and Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs)
camp in Borno State has remained a traumatic incident to its pilots fighting
Boko Haram insurgency in the North-east.
While tendering
apologies to victims of the Rann bombing, NAF Director of Public Relations and
Information, Air Commodore Olatokunbo Adesanya, said authorities are working
hard to prevent any future incident.
He said: “Sequel to
the official statement by the Defence Headquarters on the unfortunate Rann
bombing incident on 17 January 2017, the Nigerian Air Force (NAF), being the
service directly involved in the incident, would once more like to convey its
deepest regrets to all concerned.
“It is important to reiterate that no NAF pilot leaves his base with the intention of going to kill the same set of people that he greatly sacrifices day and night to protect.
“It is important to reiterate that no NAF pilot leaves his base with the intention of going to kill the same set of people that he greatly sacrifices day and night to protect.
“The unfortunate
bombing of innocent civilians in Rann, Borno State has, therefore, remained a
traumatic incident for the NAF pilots involved and indeed, the entire NAF
community.
“The NAF and other stakeholders are already taking necessary measures to prevent a recurrence of the unfortunate incident.”
“The NAF and other stakeholders are already taking necessary measures to prevent a recurrence of the unfortunate incident.”
Adesanya stated:
“For instance, they are engaging humanitarian organisations in the North-east
with a view to understanding their programmes and locations of such programmes
in order to prevent gaps in communication.”
Meanwhile, the Chief
of the Air Staff, Air Marshal Sadique Abubakar, has directed appropriate NAF
officials to intensify humanitarian intervention schemes for IDPs at Rann and
other parts of the North-east.
Adesanya added:
“There is an ongoing NAF medical outreach programme during which over 164 IDPs
from various IDP Camps in Borno State have undergone free surgical operations
in the NAF medical facility in Maiduguri. The programme is still ongoing and is
scheduled to last for another three days.
“The NAF solicits
the understanding and support of all Nigerians and members of the international
community regarding the tragic incident.
“More importantly, the NAF again extends its most sincere condolences to all the families of the victims of the incident.
“More importantly, the NAF again extends its most sincere condolences to all the families of the victims of the incident.
“The NAF assures
the general public that it remains resolute in its task of preserving the
territorial integrity of Nigeria and ensuring the security of all Nigerians,”
Adesanya stressed.
Source: - Paul Obi | This Day | July 25, 2017.
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