On Tuesday, Lieutenant General Taoreed Lagbaja, the Chief of Army Staff (COAS), expressed sadness for the fatal airstrike that left 85 persons dead and numerous more injured in Kaduna State.
Visiting the scene of the accident that has cast the country into mourning, the army commander expressed the Nigerian Army’s regret to the people, the government, and the community of Kaduna State.
Two days after the unintentional strike in the North-West state’s Igabi district, Lagbaja visited the victims and pledged to prevent similar incidents in the future when conducting military operations.
“I consider the terrible event that occurred on Sunday, December 3, 2023, to be serious and regrettable. Regarding one of the deadliest military bombing incidents in the nation, he stated, “We will take all reasonable steps to ensure that a similar incident never occurs in the course of our operations moving ahead.
The army chief met with the Dangaladima Zazau, the District Head of Rigasa, Architect Aminu Idris, other leaders, and community people. He was accompanied by important staff officers from army headquarters and the General Officer Commanding 1 Division.
In one of the deadliest military bombing incidents in the nation, the Nigerian Army struck Tudun Biri hamlet in the Igabi Local Government Area of Kaduna State by air, killing 85 people.
66 additional casualties were injured in Sunday’s attack, according to Halima Suleiman, the National Emergency Management Agency’s (NEMA) zonal spokesman for the North-West, who talked with Channels Television.
She said that following the victims’ Monday funeral, the local authorities provided the death toll.
First Perplexity
Following Sunday’s unintentional aerial attack, confusion ensued as the Nigerian Air Force (NAF) denied any involvement in the bombing.
The Kaduna State Government said hours later that the Army had accepted responsibility for the unintentional error.
The Nigerian military frequently uses airstrikes to combat so-called bandit groups in the nation’s northeast and northwest, where Islamists have been engaged in combat for more than ten years.
These airstrikes have not, however, been without controversy, unintentional bombings, and purported miscalculations, which have resulted in the deaths of innocent Nigerians, including troops.
The NAF assumed accountability for a deadly bombing on the Nasarawa town of Kwatiri earlier in 2023. Six more people were hurt and at least 39 people died in the airstrike that took place on January 24.
About 20 troops on the ground are said to have died at Mainok, Borno State, in 2021 when a NAF fighter jet responding to Boko Haram insurgent attacks on a military camp bombed the camp using the incorrect coordinate.
Tinubu Issues Probe Order
On Tuesday, President Bola Ahmed Tinubu launched an investigation after the military admitted that one of its drones had inadvertently hit Tudun Biri hamlet as the locals were enjoying a Muslim holiday.
Ajuri Ngelale, the presidential spokesman, released a statement in which she stated, “President Tinubu describes the incident as very unfortunate, disturbing, and painful, expressing indignation and grief over the tragic loss of Nigerian lives.”
In addition, Kaduna State Governor Uba Sani issued an order for a thorough inquiry into the events of Sunday, promising the populace that their safety and security will be given top priority in the ongoing battle against terrorists, bandits, and other criminal groups.
As the governor oversaw the injured people’s quick evacuation to the Barau Dikko Teaching Hospital for emergency care, he revealed that the Kaduna State Government will handle the medical care and associated arrangements.
But he urged everyone in the state, including the impacted population, to maintain their composure and aid the state’s security forces and government in their fight against terrorists, bandits, kidnappers, and other lawbreakers.
