The National Security Adviser (NSA) Nuhu Ribadu says the tragic bombing of Tudun Biri village in which over 126 persons were killed has happened, and the most important thing is moving forward, learning lessons from the incident.
“We are here to physically see and also talk directly to the people, victims, and families and make an assessment for the Federal Government.
“It is a tragedy and misfortune. But it has happened. What matters is how we move forward, what we are going to learn from here, and what exactly we need to do,” Mr Ribadu said.
Mr Ribadu made this statement in the company of senators from northern Nigeria who went on a fact-finding visit to the village, Channels TV reported on Friday.
Peoples Gazette had on Monday reported, citing a source in the army, how an accidental airstrike killed 126 people celebrating Maulud at Tudun Giri village in Igabi Local Government area of Kaduna State last Sunday.
Idris Dahiru, a resident of Tudun Biri, narrated how the army released a bomb on villagers celebrating Maulud, killing 34 members of his family.
Mr Dahiru narrated how the army dropped two bombs on the village in 30-minute intervals, saying how the second bomb killed those who ran to the scene to rescue villagers injured by the first bombing.
“As we rushed to aid the injured, the jet returned, unleashing a second bomb; this time, many of those who had come to help were among the casualties. We have 66 loved ones receiving medical care at Barau Dikko Hospital,” Mr Dahiru said.
The incident has sparked reactions, with Nigerians condemning the army while calling for a probe into the matter.
President Bola Tinubu had, in a statement on Tuesday, mourned those killed in the accidental airstrike while ordering a probe into the matter.
Tudun Biri’s incident comes as the latest among many other bombings of civilians by the Nigerian army. In 2021, The Gazette reported that the Nigerian Air Force Alpha jet, in an ariel attack on armed bandits in Niger State, mistakenly killed wedding guests.
A similar bombing claimed over 100 civilians in January 2023. Before then, the Nigerian Air Force, in an airstrike, killed some Nigerian soldiers, mistaking them for insurgents. A soldier in a video published by The Gazette was seen reporting the incident and calling for help.
