Following the tragedy that occurred at Tudun Biri community in Igabi Local Government area of Kaduna State where over 80 residents were feared dead by mistaken firing of Nigerian Army, the Presidential candidate of the Labour Party, LP in 2023 election, Dr Peter Obi has berated prolong insecurity in the country, describing such unintended human cost as a collateral damage.
Over 80 Kaduna State residents were killed while 66 others were injured as they were celebrating Maulud Nabiyy on Sunday when Army drone mistaken them for bandits.
Speaking on his verified X handle on the incident which has generated controversy, Obi lamented that the issue of insecurity had persisted for so long leading to the death of innocent citizense.
The Nigerian Army had apologizied over the death of the citizens.
Also the Chief of the Army Staff, Lt. Gen. Taoreed Lagbaja visited the scene of the misfire incident to ascertain the level of damage done by the drone attack on the village during the celebration of Prophet Muhammed (PBUH) birthday celebration.
Lagbaja’s visit on Tuesday came hours after President Bola Tinubu ordered a thorough investigation into the bombardment of the village during the weekend which has thrown the entire residents into mourning.
During the visit where he met with the Dangaladima Zazau, the District Head of Rigasa, Architect Aminu Idris, other leaders, and members of the community, the Army boss, in an emotion-laden voice, expressed regrets on the unfortunate mishap, describing it as a very disheartening occurrence.
Lagbaja noted that in the recent past, the general area of Tudun Biri and adjoining villages were infested with armed bandits, who terrorised the communities, until troops of the Nigerian Army started conducting operations to sanitize the area and make it habitable.
He pointed out, that the troops were carrying out aeriel patrols when they observed a group of people and wrongly analyzed and misinterpreted their pattern of activities to be similar to that of the bandits, before the drone strike.
The COAS stated that he was in Tudun Biri to personally witness the site of the mishap and to convey sincere regrets and unreserved apologies on behalf of the Nigerian Army to the District Head and people of the community, as well as the Government and entire people of Kaduna State.
He disclosed that he has ordered a thorough inquiry into the incident to ascertain and identify areas of deficiency that led to the inadvertent disaster, adding that the findings and overarching outcome of the investigation will guide the Army in meticulously and professionally seeking and applying lasting solutions to identified lapses and deficiencies in both the human and Artificial Intelligence variables that will forestall future recurrence.
The District Head, Idris, in his remarks, said despite the enormity of the incident, the Nigerian Army showed integrity in accepting responsibility for the drone strike and urged its leadership to intervene in bringing succour to hospitalized victims and the community for their losses.
He maintained that the community is a mixed community of both Muslims and Christians and that the victims are of both faith, contrary to earlier insinuation that the community is solely Muslim.
Expressing his concern, the former Anambra State Governor said, “I read with sadness, the devastating reports of the accidental bombing of Tudun Biri Village in the Igabi Local Government Area of Kaduna State, by a Nigerian Army craft that mistook the villagers for terrorists.
“rest, and quick healing to the injured. We pray that such a mistake leading to a sorrowful outcome, as this, never happens again in our country.
“It is regrettable that the problem of insecurity in our nation has persisted for so long that we are now paying such unintended human costs as collateral damage.” Obi stated.
