. . . Regrets mistake as survivors narrate ordeal

By MARYAM SULEIMAN BELLO, Kaduna

The Nigerian Army has accepted responsibility for Sunday night’s attack which left several citizens dead and others injured at Tudun Biri village in Igabi Local Government Area of Kaduna State. The Nigerian Air Force was initially blamed for the attack but washed its hands off it.

The Nigerian Army this Monday afternoon, however, accepted responsibility during a meeting convened by the Kaduna State Government and presided over by the Deputy Governor, Dr Hadiza Sabuwa Balarabe. At the meeting which had in attendance heads of security agencies, religious and traditional leaders, the Nigerian Army explained the circumstances which led to “the unfortunate and unintended attack”.

The General Officer Commanding One Division Nigerian Army, Major VU Okoro, explained that the Army was on a routine mission against terrorists but inadvertently affected members of the community.

A statement by Samuel Aruwan, Overseeing Commissioner, Ministry of Internal Security and Home Affairs, said the deputy governor at the end of the closed-door meeting conveyed the condolences of the Government and People of Kaduna State to the families that lost their loved ones, and prayed for the repose of the victims’ souls.

“As of the time of this update, search-and-rescue efforts are still ongoing, as dozens of injured victims have been evacuated to Barau Dikko Teaching Hospital by the Government”, the statement said.

Even though the statement did not disclose the exact casualty figure and the injured, some survivors at the Kaduna State Teaching Hospital said over 80 worshippers lost their lives and over 50 survivors were injured, most of whom were receiving treatment at the Teaching Hospital.

Danjuma Salisu, a survivor, said: “We heard a loud sound of an incoming aircraft, the next thing we hard was a loud sound of a bomb. Then we saw several bodies over 80 dead with body parts littered everywhere. It’s a horrific experience, but we thank God for surviving with injuries only.

“Someone gave a wrong security tips to the military that bandits gathered to launch attack. We are not bandits as you can see. We are Islamic worshippers who gathered to celebrate Maulud Nabih.”

Heads of security agencies who attended the meeting include the Commissioner of Police, MY Garba, and Director of the Department of State Services (DSS) Abdul Eneche. The Chairman of the Kaduna State Chapter of Jam’atu Nasril Islam (JNI), Professor Shafi'u Abdullahi, led other religious leaders. Also present at meeting was the District of Rigasa, Alhaji Aminu Idris in whose domain the incident occurred.

Update news