Kaduna Bombing: Northern Group To Sue FG
….Rebuilding Of Community To Start in Three Weeks, Says Gov Sani
….bombing wasn’t deliberate, accidental airstrike won’t happen again – Chief of Defence Staff assures
A group, the Concerned Northern Lawyers Forum, has condemned the recent military accidental bombing at Tudun Biri village in the Igabi Local Government Area of Kaduna State, with a threat to institute legal action against the Federal Government over the incident.
The group said the decision to sue the Federal Government is to demand payment of adequate compensation for the victims of the military drone attack.
Speaking at a news conference in Kaduna on Saturday, a spokesman for the group, Nafi’u Abubakar, countered the Nigerian Army’s claim that the attack was a mistake, insisting that the operation was deliberately planned against the innocent civilians of Tudun Biri community.
He urged the Federal Government to immediately commence a thorough independent investigation into the bombing incident with a view to getting to the root of the matter.
Abubakar also asked the Nigerian Army to reevaluate its rules of engagement and training procedures to prevent the loss of innocent lives during its operations.
Army Apologises, Rights Groups Fault Incident
Over 85 persons were confirmed dead in the strike that occurred on December 3, 2023 while scores were injured in the most recent military mishap.
Already, the Nigerian Army has apologised over the strike, reassuring that there won’t be a recurrence of such an incident but rights groups have condemned it.
“The Nigerian military’s recklessness is a result of the authorities’ consistent failure to hold them to account for a long list of such atrocities. These unlawful killings of civilians cannot be swept under the carpet,” said Director of Amnesty International Nigeria, Isa Sanusi.
President Bola Tinubu and Governor Sani have also ordered a probe into the matter which threw the nation into mourning.
Kaduna Bombing: Rebuilding Of Community To Start in Three Weeks, Says Gov Sani
Governor Uba Sani of Kaduna State has stated that the rebuilding of the Tudun Biri in the Igabi Local Government Area will commence in the next three weeks.
Speaking on Friday during an interview on Channels Television’s Sunrise Daily, Gov Sani said Vice President Kashim Shettima had assured rebuilding efforts would commence as soon as possible, calling for calm.
“In the course of this incident, we are starting a program. So the whole community will be rebuilt.”
“Mr. Vice President, yesterday, even this morning, I called him, and he assured me that the rebuilding of the community will start in the next three to four weeks maximum,” he said.
“I won’t be surprised if the whole building starts in the next two weeks.”
“Today they have taken responsibility and it’s a way forward. Having taken responsibility, We will have to fast-track the investigation and ensure that those involved are dealt with decisively.”
“For me, it’s key and that will make the community a bit calm and satisfied.”
The Chief of Army Staff, Lt. Gen. Taoreed Lagbaja, during his visit to the community on Tuesday, apologised to the relatives of the victims, describing the incident as “very disheartening.”
Lagbaja, also ordered an investigation into the incident, saying the probe would prevent future occurrences.
Despite the Army owning up to the tragic incident, protesters stormed the National Assembly on Wednesday to express their anger where they demanded justice for the victims, and challenged the Minister of Defence, Abubakar Badaru, to either live up to his responsibility or resign.
Similarly, the United Nations expressed its disapproval of the bombing and urged the military to review its rules of engagement.
“While we note that the authorities have termed the civilian deaths as accidental, we call on them to take all feasible steps in the future to ensure civilians and civilian infrastructure are protected,” said Magango in a statement.
“They must review rules of engagement and standard operating procedures to ensure that such incidents do not happen again,” the UN human rights, Public Information Officer, Seif Magango on Wednesday
