Army, not NAF bombed civilians in Kaduna, killing over 30 – State Govt
By Emma Ogbuehi
The Kaduna State government on Monday said authorities of the Nigerian Army had taken responsibility for the Sunday night bomb attack which led to the killing of dozens of civilians at Tudun Biri village in Igabi local government area of Kaduna state.
The initial report was that the bombing was carried out by the Nigerian Air Force (NAF).
But NAF in a statement by Director of Public Relations and Information, Air Commodore Edward Gabkwet, said the Air Force had not carried out any air operation in Kaduna State in the last 24 hours.
The statement also reminded Nigerians that the NAF is not the only organization operating combat armed drones in the Northwestern region of Nigeria.
But the question of who did it has now been answered by the Kaduna State authories.
This was disclosed in a statement issued by the overseeing commissioner of the Ministry of Internal Security and Home Affairs, Kaduna State, Samuel Aruwan, after the state’s Security Council meeting on Monday, December 4.
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Aruwan said that during the meeting which had in attendance heads of security agencies, Islamic clerics, and traditional rulers, the state government received briefings on the Sunday night attack.
He said during the meeting presided over by the deputy governor, Hadiza Sabuwa Balarabe, the General Officer Commanding 1 Division Nigerian Army, Major General Valentine Okoro, explained the circumstances that led to the unfortunate attack.
Aruwan stated: “The Kaduna state government has received briefings on Sunday night’s attack which left several citizens dead and others injured.
“In a meeting presided over by the deputy governor, Hadiza Sabuwa Balarabe, which had in attendance heads of security agencies, and religious and traditional leaders, the Nigerian Army explained the circumstances which led to the unfortunate and unintended attack.
“The General Officer Commanding One Division Nigerian Army, Major General VU 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.
“Heads of security agencies who attended the meeting include the Commissioner of Police, MY 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 Head of Rigasa, Alhaji Aminu Idris in whose domain the incident occurred.”
