The armed forces of Nigeria have acknowledged that a drone strike carried out by the army unintentionally resulted in the deaths of at least 85 civilians who were attending a Muslim celebration in the north-west on Sunday.
Residents of Tudun Biri, located in Kaduna state, were gathered for the Maulud festival when they heard a loud noise resembling that of an airplane and then a large explosion at around 9pm.
“I was unable to move,” expressed Danjuma Salisu, a survivor, as he lay in his hospital bed being treated for injuries to his hand and leg.
Based on reports from the local community, residents evacuated the region out of concern for potential future attacks. Lt Gen Taoreed Lagbaja, the leader of the Nigerian army, personally visited Tudun Biri and expressed regret for the airstrike. Representatives from the Kaduna state government also met with village leaders and assured them that those impacted by the strike would receive compensation.
The event draws attention to a recurring occurrence of deadly air attacks carried out by the Nigerian military. These strikes are aimed at armed groups that are responsible for abductions and murders in the northern region of the nation.
The military stated that they were conducting a regular operation against terrorists, but unintentionally harmed members of the community. They did not disclose the number of casualties or provide an explanation for the incident, but locals reported that 85 people, including women and children, were killed. Some eyewitnesses claim that the death toll may be even higher.
A villager named Idris Dahiru reported, “I was inside my home when the initial bomb was released. We hurried to the location to assist those impacted and then another bomb was released.”
“I lost my aunt, my brother’s spouse, and their six children, as well as the wives of my four other brothers in the bombing. My eldest brother’s entire family perished, except for his infant child who miraculously survived. In total, we mourned the loss of 85 individuals who were victims of the explosion.”
According to Dahiru, there are over 60 injured individuals currently receiving treatment in the hospital.
Husseini Ibrahim, a fellow resident, shared with Agence France-Presse (AFP): “I tragically lost 13 members of my family, including my own children and those of my brothers. There were seven boys and six girls among the 85 victims who were killed. We laid them to rest today.”
According to Hassan Ma’aruf, a resident, numerous women and children were among the victims. He shared images with AFP that he claims depict the bodies.
According to a statement from the national emergency management agency, the local authorities have reported that 85 deceased individuals have been buried in the Northwest region, with the search for more ongoing.
The Nigerian government has announced that President Tinubu expressed his sorrow and outrage over the tragic loss of Nigerian lives, calling the incident unfortunate and disturbing. The president, currently in attendance at the Cop28 Climate Summit in Dubai, has instructed for an investigation to be conducted into the matter.
The governor of Kaduna state, Uba Sani, stated that efforts will be made to avoid a recurrence of this disaster and assure the safety of citizens as the ongoing battle against terrorists, bandits, and other criminals continues.
The Nigerian military frequently conducts airstrike attacks on Boko Haram terrorists and militants engaged in insurgencies in the northern region of the nation. The north-west has become the most violent area, surpassing the north-east, in a number of ongoing conflicts in Africa’s most densely populated country.
Although the jihadists in the north-east are driven by both religion and resources, those in the north-west have imitated their methods of large-scale abductions and attacks without adopting their ideology, resulting in the control of extensive areas in the region.
Since assuming the presidency in May, Bola Tinubu has made security a top concern for his government. He has allocated $4 billion towards defence spending, which accounts for 12% of this year’s budget. However, he has not provided much information on his plans to enhance security, and experts believe that past budget increases have not effectively addressed the ongoing violence.
In the past, military airstrikes in Nigeria have resulted in harm to innocent civilians. In September 2021, a bombing in Kwatar Daban Masara on Lake Chad in the north-east caused the deaths of 20 fishers and injuries to several others. The military mistakenly believed them to be militants. In January 2017, a camp housing 40,000 people displaced by jihadist violence in Rann near the Cameroon border was hit by a fighter jet, resulting in the deaths of at least 112 individuals.
Six months later, the Nigerian military attributed the cause of the incident to a lack of proper marking in the area. Activists claim that previous similar occurrences have not been properly investigated.
The military of Nigeria receives support from countries such as Britain and the US, who have expressed worry about violations of human rights.
Source: theguardian.com
