From Noah Ebije, Kaduna
The Chief of Army Staff (COAS), Lt.-Gen. Taoreed Lagbaja, has visited and commiserated with victims of the Tudun Biri community that was erroneously bombed by the army drone.
The COAS, in an emotion laden voice, tendered unreserved apology to the people of the community and their leadership.
This was as he donated the sum of N10 million to the injured survivors of the accident for their upkeep, when he visited them at the Barau Dikko Teaching Hospital, Kaduna.
The Nigerian Army, on Monday, accepted responsibility for the mistargeted attack which claimed dozens of lives last Sunday night, when the villagers were celebrating Maulud Nabi.
Lagbaja, who was accompanied to the village by top military commanders, prayed at the mass grave of the victims.
Speaking with journalists shortly afterwards, the COAS said the accidental strike was done by Unarmed Aerial Vehicles (UAVs) platforms on the trail of bandits.
He said: “On Sunday, the 3rd of December, 2023, while the Nigerian Army UAV (Unarmed Aerial Vehicle) platforms were conducting armed reconnaissance around the vicinity of Riyawa, Ruma, the drones observed movement of people suspected to be bandits and having trailed them for sometime, the decision was taken to strike based on the observation of some tactics usually employed by bandits.
“Unfortunately, the report we got, thereafter, revealed that it was innocent civilians in Tudun Biri that the drone carried out the strike on.”
He said with the reports, he felt the urgent and essential need to visit the attacked vicinity physically to, first, commiserate with the community on the unfortunate incident. He added that the visit was, also, aimed at determining the kind of enquiry that would be conducted by the army to forestall reoccurrence of such an unfortunate incident.
“We also look beyond to determine the kind of operations we will be conducting, going forward, in the vicinity and its environs. We have already set up an inquiry, while the visit to the village has given an idea of the kind of expertise that would be employed into the committee. The panel of enquiry will ensure a holistic view and recommendations that will be worthwhile going forward.”
He said the Nigerian Army, as a responsible organisation of the government, would support the law abiding citizens and their families for being victims of the unfortunate incident, adding that the army would also provide support to the entire community, to alleviate their sufferings.
The chief of army staff, however, urged the community to always provide useful information to authorities and security operatives, in order to ensure swift action against adversaries.
The District Head of Rigasa, Alhaji Aminu Idris, described the drone attack incident as unfortunate, adding that over 80 people were buried. He also confirmed the COAS statement that the environment was infested by bandits as the community had suffered banditry attacks.
He, however, urged the army to continue doing its best in protecting the life and property of the citizens, as he expressed optimism that the authorities would compensate families of the deceased to ameliorate their sufferings.
The chief of army staff and his entourage, thereafter, visited the survivors of the attack at Barau Dikko Teaching Hospital and donated N10 million to the survivors for their upkeep.