Kashim Shettima said that there is no benefit in reiterating the military airstrike, which resulted in the deaths of at least 126 individuals and numerous injuries in Tudun Biri village, Igabi Local Government Area of Kaduna State, last Sunday.
“There is no gain in dwelling too much on this incident that has happened. I am here because the President is deeply concerned; he was deeply touched by what happened,” Mr. Shettima said.
He added, “The late Dele Giwa rightly said, let’s not talk about the numbers; one life lost in cold blood is as gruesome as millions lost in a pogrom. We were at the hospital to sympathise with the victims and be assured that the Federal Government stands by the community affected and the government and people of Kaduna State on this unfortunate incident.”
Addressing journalists, Mr. Shettima, who headed a Federal Government delegation to the village and hospital to express condolences to the injured, assured victims of government support.
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Shettima stated that an investigation is underway to prevent a recurrence of the incident, with a report expected in the shortest possible time.
On Monday, it was reported that 126 people celebrating Maulud in Tudun Biri village, Igabi LGA, were accidentally killed in an airstrike.
Idris Dahiru, a resident of Tudun Biri, recounted the tragic event, revealing that the army dropped two bombs on the village in a 30-minute interval.
The second bomb claimed the lives of those who rushed to the scene to rescue villagers injured by the initial bombing, including 34 members of Mr. Dahiru’s family.
“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 occurrence has triggered responses from Nigerians denouncing the military and urging an investigation into the incident.
On Tuesday, the Bola Tinubu expressed condolences for those who lost their lives in the unintentional airstrike and mandated an inquiry into the matter.
The Tudun Biri incident is the most recent in a series of civilian bombings by the Nigerian army. In 2021, the Nigerian Air Force Alpha jet mistakenly killed wedding guests during an aerial attack on bandits in Niger State, as reported by Peoples Gazette.
Another bombing resulted in the deaths of over 100 civilians in January 2023. Prior to that, the Nigerian Air Force mistakenly targeted and killed Nigerian soldiers in an airstrike, confusing them for insurgents.
A soldier, featured in a video published by The Gazette, recounted the incident and appealed for assistance.