Pan-Northern socio-political organisation calls for investigation into the bombing

By Alhaji Umar
Kanempress
6th December 2023

The Pan-Northern socio-political organisation, Arewa Consultative Forum, ACF, and the Sultan Sa’ad Abubakar lll led Jama’atu Nasril Islam, have called for a thorough investigation into the circumstances surrounding the military bombing.

In reaction separately to the incident, the Arewa Consultative Forum described the accidental bombing in Kaduna state 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.”

The National Publicity Secretary of the forum, Professor Tukur Muhammed-Baba, on Tuesday, commiserated with the state government and families of victims, praying that “God grant the dead peace.”

Muhammed-Baba noted that efforts must be put in place to avert such “avoidable” loss of lives and property in the future.

He said that communities in the Northern states had had enough problems battling with banditry and should not in any way be further inflicted with more pains.

Muhammed-Baba demanded an apology from the Nigerian Army as well as a full, thorough, honest, and open investigation of the accidental bombing, to establish what exactly happened.

According to Muhammed-Baba, any and all those found guilty of professional or operational incompetence must be severely disciplined, and transparently so.

The Arewa Consultative Forum also noted that the investigation must be undertaken with the full participation of the people of the affected community and families of victims, 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,” Muhammed-Baba said.

“Full compensation must be paid for the dead in accordance with current Islamic diya value for individual lives,” he said.

“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 Arewa Consultative Forum said.

On its part, the Jama’atu Nasril Islam, through its Secretary-General, Professor Khalid Abubakar-Aliyu, reiterated the organisation’s commitment to seeking justice for the victims’ families.

“The Jama’atu Nasril Islam, representing the collective voice of the Ummah, stands in profound consternation and grief over the tragic incident which 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,” Professor Abubakar-Aliyu said.

“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,” he said.

Nigerian President grieves

Nigerian President Bola
Tinubu has described the accidental bombing of locals in Kaduna State by the Nigerian Army as “very unfortunate, disturbing, and painful,” expressing indignation and grief over the tragic loss of lives.

He sympathised with the families of victims, the people, and the government of Kaduna State.

The Special Adviser on Media and Publicity, Ajuri Ngelale, coveted President Tinubu’s grief titled ‘President Tinubu condoles with Kaduna State Government, families of victims over bombing mishap.’

President Tinubu directed a thorough and full-fledged investigation and called for calm.

He also directed swift and comprehensive medical attention for surviving victims while praying for the repose of the souls of the deceased.

Similarly, the Opposition Peoples Democratic Party presidential candidate, former Vice President Atiku Abubakar, said that the incidence of miscalculated air strikes was assuming a worrisome dimension in Nigeria.

Atiku, who said this in an X post on Tuesday, stated, “I am grieved by the news of the drone airstrike that killed dozens of people and left scores of others with various degrees of injury in the Tudun Biri community in Igabi Local Government Area of Kaduna State. Ironically, the victims of this unfortunate incident were celebrating the Maulud anniversary.’’

Also, the Chairman of the Northern States Governors’ Forum and Governor of Gombe State, Muhammadu Yahaya, expressed deep sorrow and heartfelt condolences to the families of the Maulud celebrants.

Yahaya, had on Tuesday, extended his condolences to the government and people of Kaduna State, describing the loss of innocent lives as a heartbreaking tragedy.

The governor stressed that while the fight against banditry and terrorism remained crucial, “it must be executed with the highest level of professionalism and care to prevent such heart-wrenching accidents.”

On his part, the Chairman of the Transparency International, Auwal Rafsanjani, said all security agencies involved in the bombings should be sanctioned.

Rafsanjani faulted the security agencies’ failure in intelligence gathering and sharing.

He stated that identifying members of terrorist groups should ideally not be the job of the military, but the job of the police, the Department of State Services, and other relevant intelligence agencies, noting that some of the said agencies were grossly underfunded by the government.

Similarly, the Head of the National Coordinating Secretariat, United Action Front for Civil Societies, Olawale Okunniyi, said the military should rather be reoriented and re-jigged to operate on the side and in the interest of the masses.

“It is an unfortunate incident. Our military should be more revolutionary than reactionary. But presently they are reactionary and so they are not on the side of the people. They have to upgrade. We think that they must improve”, Okunniyi said.

Still on the same issue, the Chairman of the Centre for Accountability and Open Leadership, Debo Adeniran, lamented the errors of the military.

Adeniran said those responsible must be held accountable and punished accordingly, as a deterrent for others.

Defense Headquarters panel

Meanwhile, the military high command at the Defense Headquarters, had on Tuesday, said it would be investigating the accidental bombing and would establish a panel for this.

In reaction to an inquiry from Kanempress, the Director of Defence Media Operations, Major General, Edward Buba said the military would probe the incident.

Major General Buba said a panel would be constituted to look into the matter, and details would be communicated.

“Yes, the military will probe the incident. When the panel is set up, the details will be communicated accordingly, please,” Buba said.

Also speaking on the issue, the Director of the Army Public Relations, Brigadier General Onyema Nwachukwu stated that with the on-the-spot assessment done by the Chief of Army Staff, he would be able to assemble the right persons to make up the panel.

“From what the COAS has done now, which was to visit the scene of the incident, he would be able to gain insight into the expertise that would be required to carry out the inquiry. This will help in guiding us on the kind of persons that will be in that panel. I can’t speak on how long the investigation will take,” Brigadier General Nwachukwu said.