The Nigerian Air Force has confirmed the incident involving is personnel and some civilians at Barakallahu, a community in Kaduna state, and has assured of a thorough investigation into the matter.
This was contained in a statement issued on Thursday by the NAF spokesman, Air Vice Marshal Olusola Akinboyewa.
TheFacr Daily gathers that residents of Barikallahu, a community near the Air Force Institute of Technology in Kaduna State, have been gripped with fear after NAF personnel stormed the area, killing one person and injuring two others.
The incident occurred around 10 p.m. on Wednesday, 26th February, 2025, and was captured in multiple videos. One clip showed the personnel apprehending a man, beating him while others inside the vehicle shouted in pidgin English, “Put am inside, put am inside” (Put him inside).
Another video captured the soldiers firing sporadically into the air before the recording was abruptly cut.
An eyewitness who spoke under the condition of anonymity said that the NAF personnel had been aggressive to residents before yesterday’s incident, claiming that one of the NAF personnel had an issue with a resident because of a woman, and mobilised his colleagues to the community. They stormed the place and started beating people and shooting sporadically in the air.
The resident said that “unfortunately, the person who was killed knew nothing about the whole thing; he was hit by a bullet from the gunshot by the soldiers, and he died. The two others were shot- one on his shoulder, the other on his leg. They are presently in the hospital. It was a tragic incident that has caused panic in the whole of the community.”
Akinboyewa in his statement confirmed that the injured persons are currently receiving treatment at the 461 NAF Hospital, and expressed deep regret over the loss of a life. He added that contact has been made with the family of the deceased to “express our condolences and assure them of a thorough investigation and justice”.
While maintaining that the NAF remains a highly disciplined and professional Force committed to upholding the highest standards of conduct in all engagements, Akinboyewa assured that a full investigation into the circumstances surrounding this incident is already underway, adding that “any personnel found culpable will face the full weight of the law in line with our commitment to justice and accountability”.
He urged members of the public to remain calm as the Service works diligently to ascertain the facts and ensure that appropriate actions are taken.
“The NAF remains steadfast in its duty to protect and serve the Nigerian people while maintaining the trust and confidence of our host communities”, he stated.
