Iliyasu Abdullahi Bah
A state of anguish and calls for justice grip the residents of Keke B area in Millennium City, Kaduna, after a Nigerian Air Force helicopter crashed into residential buildings on Thursday. The incident resulted in the partial or total demolition of several homes, significant property damage, and multiple injuries, including a severe case where a woman lost a finger.
According to multiple eyewitness accounts, the events unfolded over a confusing and frightening hour. Residents reported that the helicopter initially flew overhead at a normal, non-threatening altitude. However, it returned approximately an hour later behaving erratically before ultimately striking the roofs of multiple buildings.
Karima Said, an eyewitness, recounted the terrifying sequence: “At first, the helicopter passed at a normal level in the space. Before we knew it, after one hour it came back and crashed into the roof. It destroyed our property, our house has been demolished.”
The crash site is one of profound destruction. Homes have been reduced to rubble, with personal belongings scattered and buried under the debris. Mohammed Hamidu, an affected resident, surveyed the wreckage of his home in despair.
“We have not understood the meaning of this,” Hamidu stated, visibly shaken. “Our building is demolished, all our properties have been scattered. The government should look into our situation. We have lost everything.”
Beyond the property damage, the human cost of the crash is severe. One of the most serious injuries was sustained by an unnamed woman who was critically wounded by flying debris caused by the helicopter impact.
Sulaiman Ahmed, another resident, provided a harrowing account: “To be honest, a woman’s finger has been cut off due to the high pressure of the craft. A door was removed by the force and cut her finger off. She was immediately rushed to the 44 Nigerian Army Reference Hospital here in Kaduna for emergency treatment.”
The psychological trauma inflicted on the community, including children and the elderly, is also a major concern, with many residents having witnessed the destructive event firsthand.
Faced with this tragedy, the community is united in its demand for immediate government action and accountability. The residents are not only seeking emergency aid but also long-term justice and compensation.
Salma Mohammed voiced the collective anger and resolve of the community: “We will not forgive this. The government should intervene and rescue us. We demand justice. They must rebuild our homes and compensate us for all we have lost.”
The affected residents are calling on both the Kaduna State Government and the leadership of the Nigerian Air Force to launch a transparent investigation into the cause of the crash, provide immediate humanitarian assistance such as shelter, food, and medical support for the injured, commit to a full compensation package to rebuild the demolished homes and replace lost properties, and also offer a formal explanation and apology to the community.
As of the time of this report, the Nigerian Air Force is yet to issue an official public statement detailing the cause of the incident or outlining its response plan for the victims. The community awaits action, hoping their cries for help will not go unanswered.