Many residents of Tundun Biri village in the Igabi LGA of Northwest Kaduna State were killed in a devastating airstrike carried out by the Nigerian Army on Sunday night.
Several others were critically injured from the bomb explosion which an army chief told state officials was a mistake.
Those bombed were Muslims gathered for the Maulud celebration at about 9:00 p.m. Sunday.
The celebration coincided with the time the Nigerian military was giving a gang of terrorists a hot chase.
A bomb was dropped which “inadvertently affected members of the community,” Major General Valentine Okoro told officials of the state government on Monday.
The airstrike left over 120 persons dead, according to Amnesty International.
Amnesty International strongly condemns air strikes by the Nigerian Army launched on Tudun Biri village in Igabi LGA of Kaduna state. Over 120 civilians have been killed and dozens injured. Launching air raids is not a legitimate law enforcement method by anyone’s standard.
— Amnesty International Nigeria (@AmnestyNigeria) December 4, 2023
The spokesperson of the Defence Headquarters, Edward Buba said the military’s serial surveillance captured bandits mixing up with the civilian population.
“Accordingly, the threat was eliminated to prevent the terrorists from unleashing terror on innocent civilians,” he added.
The state governor Uba Sani is reluctant to publicly demand accountability or criticise the military for the tragedy.
Governor Sani said he regrets the loss of lives, and ordered an investigation into the incident.
“The state government has dispatched top government officials to the area to assess the situation, reach out to the families of the victims and advise the government on the immediate actions and measures to be taken to lessen the pains of the families of the victims,” the Governor’s statement added.
President Bola Tinubu has also demanded a “thorough and full-fledged investigation” of the “tragic loss of Nigerian lives” as a result of what he termed a “bombing mishap.”
State House Press Release By @AjuriNgelale on Kaduna Village Bombing:
President @officialABAT sympathizes with the families of victims, the people, and the government of Kaduna State over the bombing mishap in a village at Tundun Biri in Igabi Local Government Area of the state.…
— President Bola Ahmed Tinubu Media Centre (@PBATMediaCentre) December 5, 2023
Meanwhile, the Chief of Army Staff, COAS, Lieutenant General Toareed Lagbaja visited the scene of the incident on Tuesday.
He also tendered an unreserved apology to the families and victims of the drone misfire.
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