THE Chief of Defence Staff, General Christopher Musa, has addressed claims of human rights violations following the deadly military airstrike in Kaduna State that claimed the lives of 24 people and injured dozens on 27 September 2024.
In an interview with Al Jazeera, General Musa stated: “We all understand that we are human beings; we are bound to make mistakes, and these are just professional mistakes. There are things beyond our control — we can’t control the weather or the atmosphere. Even when you are right, mistakes can happen. When they do, we take responsibility and make amends.
“Fighting a war for 15 years means there will inevitably be losses, and we are truly sorry for that. But the war must continue, and we are committed to stopping it.
“If you look at it, we are not the only ones. I am not blaming anyone, but any country fighting a prolonged war will face mistakes. These are never deliberate, but we take ownership and make corrections. That is what we are doing.
“We have standing court-martials for personnel who commit offences, and we take measures to support affected communities. For instance, in the two communities involved in this issue, the government has stepped in with incentives and measures to address their concerns. We have also enhanced our training, suspended the commanders on the ground, and held them accountable for their actions. The work is ongoing.
“The Nigerian Armed Forces are a professional force — we can attest to that wherever we operate. We have performed well in other countries and continue to do so in Nigeria.”
Eighteen-Eleven Media