The Nigerian Army has taken responsibility for Sunday’s air strike that left many villagers dead and several others injured at Tudun Biri village in Kaduna State.
This was confirmed by the Kaduna State Commissioner for Internal Security and Home Affairs, Mr. Samuel Aruwan, at the end of an emergency security meeting on Monday.
Aruwan said the meeting was presided over by the Deputy Governor, Dr Hadiza Balarabe, which had in attendance heads of security agencies, religious and traditional leaders, and the Nigerian Army.
He said the circumstances that led to the unfortunate and unintended attack were explained at the meeting.
He said, “The General Officer Commanding 1 Division Nigerian Army, Maj-Gen. Valentine Okoro, explained that the Nigerian Army was on a routine mission against terrorists but inadvertently affected members of the community.
“The Deputy Governor, at the end of the closed-door meeting, conveyed the condolences of the government and people of Kaduna State to the families that lost their loved ones, and prayed for the repose of the victims’ souls.
“As of the time of this update, search-and-rescue efforts are still ongoing, as dozens of injured victims have been evacuated to Barau Dikko Teaching Hospital by the government.
The commissioner said the heads of security agencies who attended the meeting included the Commissioner of Police, M.Y. Garba, and Director of the Department of State Services (DSS), Abdul Eneche.
“The Chairman of the Kaduna State Chapter of Jam’atu Nasril Islam (JNI) Professor Shafi’u Abdullahi, led other religious leaders.
“Also present at the meeting was the District of Rigasa, Alhaji Aminu Idris, in whose domain the incident occurred.”
Meanwhile, the Nigerian Air Force (NAF) has dismissed earlier claims that it was its jet that dropped the bombs.
A press statement issued by the NAF’s Director of Public Relations and Information of Nigerian, Air Commodore Edward Gabkwet, said: “The news making the rounds alleging that Nigerian Air Force (NAF) aircraft accidentally killed innocent civilians in Kaduna is false.
“Please be informed that the NAF has not carried out any air operations within Kaduna State and environs in the last 24 hours.
“Also, note that the NAF is not the only organization operating combat armed drones in the North western region of Nigeria.
“It is also important to ensure that due diligence is always exhausted by the media before going to press with unverified and unconfirmed reports.”
(Courtesy: PRNigeria)
