The pan-Northern socio-political organisation, Arewa Consultative Forum and the Jama’atu Nasril Islam have called for a thorough investigation into the circumstances surrounding the military bombing of Tudun Biri villagers in Kaduna State while celebrating Maulud on Sunday.
The PUNCH reports that the Kaduna State Government said the Nigerian Army claimed responsibility for dropping the bomb which left no fewer than 85 villagers dead on Sunday.
Earlier, the Nigerian Air Force had denied responsibility for the attack.
According to a statement by the Director of Public Relations and Information, Nigerian Air Force, commodore Edward Gabkwet, NAF has not carried out any operations in Kaduna in the last 24 hours.
Reacting separately to the attack, the ACF described the incident as “horrific”, noting that the northern organisation was highly disturbed that such an operation could be contemplated and executed in the densely populated area, “suggesting an inexcusable, scandalous and plausibly incompetent failure of intelligence.”
According to a statement by the National Publicity Secretary, Tukur Muhammed-Baba in Kaduna on Tuesday, the forum commiserated with the state government and victim families, praying that “God grant the dead peace.”
It noted that efforts must be put in place to avert such “avoidable” loss of lives and property in the future, adding that communities in the northern states have had enough problems with banditry and should not in any way be further inflicted with more pains.
Consequently, the ACF demanded an apology from the Nigerian Army as well as a full, thorough, honest and open investigation of the incident, to establish what exactly happened.
According to the ACF, all those found guilty of professional or operational incompetence must be severely disciplined, and transparently so.
It also noted that the investigation must be undertaken with the full participation of the people of the affected community (who must not be intimidated into keeping quiet about the gory details of their losses).
“For emphasis, the Kaduna State Government has a duty to act to protect the interest of the victims and not the Nigerian Army personnel that perpetrated the incident.
“Full compensation must be paid for the dead in accordance with current Islamic diya value for individual lives.
“The injured must not only be fully treated free of charge but must also be rehabilitated on full recovery, as well as fully compensated for losses of livelihoods and incomes while on the road to full recovery,” the statement added.
On its part, the JNI said it received the news of the incident with briefs while condoling with the families, and the loved ones of the deceased victims as well as praying fervently for the swift recovery of those injured in the attack.
A statement by the JNI Secretary General, Khalid Abubakar-Aliyu in Kaduna on Tuesday, reiterated the organisation commitment to seeking justice for the victims’ families.
The statement partly read, “The Jama’atu Nasril Islam (JNI), representing the collective voice of the Ummah, stands in profound consternation and grief over the tragic incident that unfolded at Tudun-Biri village in Igabi Local Government Area of Kaduna state, during a Maulud celebration, as was reported.
“It is thus with heavy hearts that we express our deepest condolences and sympathies to the families, as well as the loved ones of the deceased victims, and we fervently pray for the swift recovery and healing of those injured.
“JNI therefore vehemently condemns this tragic incident in its entirety and calls for a thorough, impartial, and transparent investigation into the circumstances surrounding the devastating and most unfortunate event.
“We urge authorities to ensure that those responsible are held accountable in accordance with the subsisting laws.
“We also call on the Federal Government of Nigeria through its relevant MDAs, to as a matter of urgency take up the medicals of all the affected victims and pay the due ransom of all the deceased.
“This call has become inevitable considering that similar episodes have occurred in the recent past in Yobe, Zamfara, Borno and other places.
“In conclusion, JNI reiterates its unwavering commitment to pursuing justice and ensuring that such heartbreaking incidents do not recur. We urge everyone to exercise restraint and patience as we await the outcome of investigations on the matter.” (Punch)
