President Bola Ahmed Tinubu on Tuesday ordered a thorough investigation into the bombing mishap that killed dozens of people in Tundun Biri in Igabi local government area of Kaduna State.
The president gave the directive on Tuesday morning in a statement signed by his spokesperson and Special Adviser on Media and Publicity, Ajuri Ngelale.
Expressing grief over the tragic loss of Nigerian lives, the president called for calm while the authorities look into the mishap.
President Tinubu further described the incident as very unfortunate, disturbing, and painful, sympathizing with the families of the victims, the people and government of Kaduna State over the incident.
Recall that bombs were accidentally dropped in the midst of residents of the affected communities in Igabi local government area while celebrating Maulud, an Islamic event.
Few hours after the incident, Kaduna State Overseeing Commissioner, Ministry of Internal Security and Home Affairs, Samuel Aruwa, told the Nigerian media that the Army claimed responsibility for the incident.
Reports also stated that the Nigerian Army said they were on a routine mission against terrorists but inadvertently affected members of the community.
The Nigerian Airforce, for its part, said that it had not conducted any air operations in Kaduna State in the last twenty-four hours.
It will be recalled that over 90 villagers of Tudun Biri in Rigasa District of Igabi Local Government Area of Kaduna State were killed Sunday night when a drone of the Nigerian Army bombed a gathering of residents who were celebrating Maulud.
Residents said the incident, which occurred around 9pm on Sunday, also left over 60 people injured.
The military had since owned up to the bombing but failed to give more details, insisting that the statement issued by the Kaduna State government suffices for now.
Also, there were no official figures in respect to the number of people killed or those that sustained injuries as both the military high command and the Kaduna State government were silent on that.
Many of the injured, including women and children have been evacuated to Barau Dikko General Hospital in Kaduna for treatment.
Community and religious leaders described the incident as “harrowing, painful,” and frowned at repeated cases of military aircraft killing innocent people.
Survivors of the attack said about 93 bodies, some mutilated, were buried as of Monday evening.
Liman Tudun Biri, a community leader, told Daily Trust that mutilated bodies were concealed in bags and buried.
He narrated a heart-breaking incident where a man lost his entire family except an infant who miraculously survived the attack.
“We buried 93 people including women and children while mutilated bodies were concealed in bags and buried separately,” he said.
Earlier, a survivor, Bello Shehu Gara said before conveying the injured to the hospital in the morning, they had counted over 74 bodies while remains of others were being scouted.
“We evacuated 66 injured persons to Barau Dikko hospital,” he said.
Gara recalled the celebration turning tragic when a plane on surveillance dropped a bomb on them.
“We saw many people injured and calling for help. We decided to return to rescue them, but the plane dropped another bomb, killing many on the spot. The rest of us ran for our lives.”
He noted that the community had been organising Maulud in the area for many years.
Ibrahim Liman, another resident, said many villagers, especially women and children were fleeing the surrounding communities for fear of further attacks.
He said in the last 20 years, the community has celebrated Maulud and expressed disappointment that the Nigerian Army will mistake them for terrorists.
“People are angry, many people are leaving the community because there are fears that the attack was deliberate,” he said.
The Kaduna State government on Monday said the Nigerian Army had claimed responsibility for what it described as the “unfortunate incident.”
The state’s overseeing Commissioner, Ministry of Internal Security and Home Affairs, Samuel Aruwan in a statement shortly after an emergency closed-door meeting with heads of security agencies, religious and community leaders said that the state government had received briefings on the incident.
Meanwhile, in a telephone interview with one of our correspondents last night, the Nigerian Army said there was no need to make further comments since the Kaduna State government had already spoken.
The army spokesman, Onyema Nwachukwu, a Brigadier-General, directed Daily Trust to go with the earlier statement issued by the state government.
“The state government has already spoken, kindly go with that. There is no need to speak again since there is an existing position,” he told one of our correspondents via telephone.
In its earlier statement, the Kaduna State government after a meeting presided over by the Deputy Governor, Dr Hadiza Sabuwa Balarabe, which had in attendance heads of security agencies, religious and traditional leaders, said the Nigerian Army had explained the circumstances, which led to the unfortunate and unintended attack.
“The General Officer Commanding One Division Nigerian Army, Major VU Okoro explained that the Nigerian Army was on a routine mission against terrorists but inadvertently affected members of the community,” the statement read in part.
It further stated that the deputy governor at the end of the closed door meeting conveyed condolences of the government and people of Kaduna State to the families that lost their loved ones. (Daily Trust /vitalnewsngr.com)
