Kaduna Bombing: Army Chief Apologises As Victims Get Mass Burial
The Chief of Army Staff (COAS), Lt. Gen. Taoreed Lagbaja, has apologised to the relatives of victims of the accidental bombing that occurred at the Tudun Biri community in Igabi Local Government Area of Kaduna State on Sunday.
Lagbaja during a condolence visit to the community described the incident as “very disheartening.” He, however, ordered an investigation into the incident, saying the probe would allow the army to avert such situations in the future.
About 85 victims of the bombing have been given mass burial. This is just as the search-and-rescue mission continued in the village.
The COAS, accompanied by Principal Staff Officers from the Army Headquarters and the General Officer Commanding 1 Division, met with the Dangaladima Zazau, the District Head of Rigasa, Aminu Idris, other leaders and members of the community. Lagbaja also apologised to the people.
The COAS, in an emotion-laden speech, expressed regrets, noting that in the recent past, the general area of Tudun Biri and adjoining villages were infested with bandits, who terrorised the communities, until troops of the Nigerian Army started conducting operations to sanitise the area and make it habitable.
He pointed out, that the troops were carrying out aerial patrols when they observed a group of people and wrongly analysed and misinterpreted their pattern of activities to be similar to that of the bandits, before the drone strike.
Lagbaja donated N10 million to the survivors of the bomb attack at the Barau Dikko Specialists Hospital. Idris Dahiru, a resident of Tudun Biri, said the army’s aircraft bombardment killed 34 of his family members. Dahiru, in an interview with BBC Hausa, said: “Unexpected airstrikes shattered our annual Maulud celebration. The first bomb exploded without warning, killing innocent people, including women and children, the blast tore apart some victims.
“As we rushed to aid the injured, the jet returned, unleashing a second bomb, this time, many of those who had come to help were among the casualties. My family alone has lost 34 members in this tragedy. We have 66 loved ones receiving medical care at Barau Dikko Hospital,” he narrated.
