Following the unintentional killing of civilians in an airstrike by the Nigerian Army in the Agabi Local Government Area of Kaduna State, Minister of State for Defence, Bello Matawalle, has declared that this tragic incident will not deter the fight against insurgency and terrorism.

Minister Matawalle, accompanied by the ministry's Permanent Secretary, Dr Ibrahim Kana, led a high-level delegation to Kaduna to express the Federal Government's sympathies to the victims. In a statement released by Mr Henshaw Ogubike, the ministry's Director of Press and Public Relations, the minister vowed to continue the relentless battle against terrorism despite the unfortunate occurrence.

Denouncing the tragedy, Minister Matawalle emphasized, "We are not going to relent in our fight against terrorism because these criminals must be defeated. We are going to continue fighting the criminals till we succeed against banditry and other criminalities in this country."

During his visit to the Barau Dikko Teaching Hospital in Kaduna, where injured victims were treated, Matawalle clarified that the visit was on President Bola Tinubu's instruction. He assured the Kaduna State Government of the Federal Government's commitment to assisting the victims' families. He announced the formation of an inquiry panel to investigate the incident's circumstances, aiming to prevent its recurrence.

In response, Governor Uba Sani, represented by Deputy Governor Dr Hadiza Balarabe, expressed heartfelt condolences to the affected families. He assured the victims' relatives of the government's support during this challenging time. The commitment to a thorough investigation and ongoing support demonstrates the government's dedication to addressing the aftermath of the tragic airstrike responsibly and transparently.