Civil rights advocacy group, Human Rights Writers Association of Nigeria (HURIWA), on Sunday expressed suspicion that some insiders within the Air Force may be working in cahoots with notorious bandits by supplying them information each time the Nigerian Air Force (NAF) wants to strike their hideouts in forests and rural communities.

HURIWA, in a statement by its National Coordinator, Comrade Emmanuel Onwubiko, said the accidental airstrikes by the Air Force are becoming alarming with tragic civilian casualties due to erroneous miscalculations by the Air Force during aerial bombardments.

The group said whilst notorious bandits continue to escape military raids, many accidental airstrikes have been hitting civilians with the latest being the killing of at least 37 herders in the Kwatiri community of Doma Local Government Area of Nasarawa State just in January.

HURIWA flayed the military over the arrogance of a notorious terrorist leader, Kachalla Baleri, who in a viral video was seen displaying wads of new naira notes amid a scarcity of the naira and bragging that he had up to N10 million of the new naira notes and enough to purchase more weapons

HURIWA’s Onwubiko said: “Despite the so-called military offensives in the 19 northern states, bandits continue to strike like no man’s business. Just days ago, terrorists killed no fewer than 44 vigilantes in an ambush in Gidan Gamji Village, Danmaidaki Ward of Kankara Local Government Area of Katsina State.

“It is worrisome that bandits like Kachalla are now brazen enough to flaunt new naira notes in videos because the military authorities have failed to do the needful. It is not enough to declare Kachalla and 18 other bandits/terrorists kingpins wanted and a place a N5m bounty on each of them, the Defence Headquarters must declare an all-war against him and his co-travellers to send a potent message.

“At this point, it is important to ask probing questions like: Is the Airforce truly going after Fulani terrorism kingpins in the North West? Why are these most wanted terrorists walking freely in the North West? Are there saboteurs within the Airforce that tips them off about impending airstrikes? The military must check within its ranks and bring any saboteur to book quickly.”

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