•Says pilots mistook victims for terrorists

From Noah Ebije, Kaduna

No fewer than 31 residents of Tudun Biri community in Igabi Local Government Area of Kaduna State were killed following a bomb allegedly dropped by a Nigerian Air Force Jet, during a Maulud celebration in the community.

Though details of the incident remained sketchy at the time of this report, it was said to have happened at about 9pm, on Sunday.

Daily Sun gathered that different Islamic groups and associations choose different days for Maulud celebration. Witnesses said the bomb exploded while the villagers gathered to commemorate Maulud in the village.

“They were celebrating Maulud when the jet dropped the bomb, resulting in the immediate death of many residents, and there is apprehension that the death toll may increase,” residents said.

However, Reuters, yesterday, reported that the Kaduna State Governor, Uba Sani, a religious leader and other witnesses said that the attack was carried out by a military drone attack targeting insurgents and bandits, on Sunday night.

Governor Sani was quoted as saying that Muslims taking part in Maulud celebrations in Tudun Biri village “were mistakenly killed and many others injured following a military drone attack targeting terrorists and bandits”.

Although the governor could not confirm the number of casualties involved, a religious leader put it at 50, while two other witnesses said 80 had been killed.

Reacting to the incident, the General Officer Commanding (GOC) 1 Division, Nigerian Army, Major V.U. Okoro, yesterday, explained that the army was on a routine mission against terrorists, but inadvertently killed villagers in the Tudun Biri community in Igabi Local Government Area of Kaduna State.

Receiving briefings on the killings, the Kaduna State government said it was informed by the GOC at a security meeting that the killings were unintended.

In a statement, yesterday, the Kaduna State Commissioner for Internal Security and Home Affairs, Samuel Aruwan, said: “The General Officer Commanding 1 Division, Nigerian Army, Major V.U. Okoro, explained that the army was on a routine mission against terrorists, but inadvertently affected members of the community.

“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, Dr Hadiza Sabuwa Balarabe, which had in attendance heads of security agencies, religious and traditional leaders, the Nigerian Army explained the circumstances which led to the unfortunate and unintended attack.

“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 report, search-and-rescue efforts were still ongoing, as dozens of injured victims had been evacuated to the Barau Dikko Teaching Hospital by the government. Heads of security agencies who attended the meeting include the Commissioner of Police, M.Y. Garba, and Director, Department of State Services (DSS), Abdul Eneche.

The Chairman, 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.

However, reacting through a press statement, Director, Public Relations and Information, Nigerian Air Force, Air Commodore Edward Gabkwet, dismissed the news as false.

He 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 organisation operating combat armed drones in the Northwestern 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”.