Tinubu sympathizes with victims of Kaduna village bombing; Military defends accidental bombing, says community infested with terrorists

President Bola Tinubu has described the accidental bombing of villagers in the Tudun Biri area of Kaduna State by the Nigerian Army as unfortunate and disturbing.

He sympathized with the families of the victims, the people and the government of Kaduna State in a statement signed by his Special Adviser on Media and Publicity, Ajuri Ngelale.

In the statement, the president expressed grief over the tragic loss of the locals, who were accidentally bombed while celebrating the birth of Prophet Muhammad (Maulud Nabiy) on Sunday, December 3, 2023.

“President Bola Tinubu sympathises with the families of victims, the people and government of Kaduna State over the bombing mishap in a village at Tundun Biri in Igabi Local Government Area of the state.

“President Tinubu describes the incident as very unfortunate, disturbing, and painful, expressing indignation and grief over the tragic loss of Nigerian lives,” the statement read in part.

While Nigerians were condemning the incident on Monday, the Nigerian Army admitted to bombing the locals.

According to news report, about 93 bodies have been buried as of Monday evening.

President Tinubu has called for a thorough and full-fledged investigation of the incidence and urged Nigerians to be calm while the authorities look diligently into the incident.

He also directed “swift and comprehensive medical attention for surviving victims while praying for the repose of the souls of the deceased.”

But defending their action, Nigeria’s Defense Headquarters has said terrorists were among the civilians slain by an army drone on Sunday in Ligarma village, Igabi local government area, Kaduna State.

A statement released by the Director of Defence Media Operations, Major General Edward Buba, said the attack was executed following the observation of group movements through aerial surveillance that were indicative of prior terrorist tactics and methods.

According to Buba, the threat was removed to stop the terrorists from terrorizing defenceless bystanders.

“On 3 Dec 2023, at about 2200hrs and based on untoward activities by terrorists. The NA UAV detachment observed movement of terrorists at Ligarma, a terrorist-infested area of Kaduna State. Aerial surveillance captured movement of groups of persons synonymous with the terrorist tactics and modus operandi.

“The observed advance of the terrorists that were gathered posted a threat to key infrastructure within reach of the untoward activities. Accordingly, the threat was eliminated to prevent the terrorist from unleashing terror on innocent civilians.

“It should be noted that terrorists often deliberately embed themselves within civilian population centers in order for civilian population to bear the consequences of their atrocities. Nevertheless, the Nigerian military does its best at all times to distinguish between civilians and terrorists,” Buba said.

While the DHQ acknowledges that the military views every civilian death in the cause of operations as a tragedy, it claims that instructions for communities to always alert troops of their activities particularly when such a community is known to be infested with terrorists and their sympathisers were not carried out.

The statement read, “One such measure taken by the military is to continually give precise instructions to communities. For instance, communities are to always alert troops of their activities particularly when such a community is known to be infested with terrorists and their sympathisers. These instructions are intended at enabling the military distinguish between friendly and untoward activities.”

The DHQ then said that the military forces will carry out their usual operations in accordance with international law, as well as keep moving cautiously and resolutely toward driving out terrorists from the country.

Earlier on Monday, the Kaduna State Government said the drone mistook villagers for terrorists, killing at least 85 people and injuring more than 66 people.

According to an anonymous source, the government, along with the Nigerian army, had gone to the village to meet with the elders of the community to plead with the family of the victims, also reporting that the affected persons will be compensated.

Initial reports claimed the attack was perpetrated by a Nigeria Air Force (NAF) aircraft, which was swiftly refuted in a statement where it categorically stated that it had not carried out any air operations in Kaduna during the time frame of the attack.

The Air Force also clarified that it is not the only military arm operating armed drones in the North-Western area of Nigeria.