Lagos State Governor, Mr. Babajide Sanwo-Olu, has sympathized with his Kaduna State counterpart, Senator Uba Sani, the Kaduna State Government, the immediate families of victims and the entire people of the State over the recent military drone strike that led to the death of civilians at Tudun Biri village in Igabi Local Government Area of Kaduna State.
Governor Sanwo-Olu in a condolence message issued on Wednesday by his Chief Press Secretary, Mr. Gboyega Akosile, described the incident as disheartening and unfortunate, wishing the people of Kaduna State, peace, comfort and lots of love at this time of sorrow.
He said: “I am deeply saddened by the news of the military drone strike that killed some civilians who gathered for a religious celebration over the weekend at Tudun Biri village in Igabi Local Government Area of Kaduna State.
“The death of the civilians who, according to reports, were mistakenly killed by a military drone strike targeting terrorists and bandits is worrisome and painful. We pray that God would comfort the victims’ families and the entire people of Kaduna State in this time of sorrow.
“On behalf of the Government and people of Lagos State, I sympathise with the immediate families of victims of the military drone strike mishap, the government and people of Kaduna State.
“I wish Governor Uba Sani and all the people of Kaduna State, particularly the Tudun Biri community and victims’ families, peace, comfort and lots of love at this time of sorrow.”
“I want to assure my brother-Governor that the good people of Lagos State stand with you in this very difficult time.”
Protesters storm National Assembly
Meanwhile, protesters stormed the National Assembly on Wednesday to express sadness over the accidental bombing of Tudun Biri in the Igabi Local Government Area of Kaduna State on Sunday night by the Nigerian Army.
It was also gathered that the death toll from the incident had climbed to 127, as Amnesty International threatened to take legal action against the Federal Government if it failed to carry out thorough investigations into the killings.
This came as the United Nations enjoined the military to protect the lives of citizens across the country and reduce the incidents of accidental killings by the armed forces in Nigeria.
An air strike intended to flush out terrorists had on Sunday night accidentally hit civilians during a religious celebration at Tudun Biri.
In Abuja on Wednesday, protesters stormed the National Assembly premises in reaction to the Sunday bombing.
They occupied the National Assembly entrance for more than two hours, demanded justice for the victims, and challenged the Minister of Defence, Abubakar Badaru, to either live up to his responsibility or resign.
The leader of the protesters under the aegis of the National Youth Council of Nigeria, North West Zone, and Arewa Youth Movement, Nasir Ishaku, told journalists that the groups were at the National Assembly to demand justice for the victims.
He said, “For those who have eyes to see, let them see well, and those who have ears to hear, let them listen attentively. Nigeria is not well because Nigerians are being killed day by day.
“The security situation in the country keeps deteriorating since his (Badaru) inception as Minister of Defence. These two organisations have a moral obligation to express our grievances because Nigeria is in a shambles in terms of the security of lives and property, most especially, in Northern Nigeria.
“Nigeria keeps losing members of the armed forces which include the Army, the Air Force, the Navy, and members of the Nigeria Police Force. Our university students are still in captivity and no one knows their whereabouts. These are the clear indications that the minister is incompetent to handle that sensitive ministry. Therefore, he should wake up to his responsibilities or resign.”
Reacting to the incident on Wednesday, Amnesty International said it was compiling the list of deceased persons and would make it public after the details had been verified.
It disclosed this through its Country Director, Mr Isah Sanusi, adding that Amnesty International had asked the Federal Government to investigate the killing and would take further legal actions if its demands were not met.
He said, “We are compiling the list of the deceased and will publish it once we confirm the names. There are procedures for taking legal action. We have made demands from the government to investigate the killings and if they don’t do it, we will take further legal actions.”
Death toll
The death toll rose to 127 on Wednesday, as scores of injured persons were taken to the Barau Dikko Teaching Hospital in Kaduna.
One of the survivors, Abubakar Saleh, told one of our correspondents that more injured persons were brought into the facility on Wednesday.
According to him, many were picked up in the forest and brought to the hospital.
He said the number of injured persons had increased to 75, adding that one person died on Wednesday.
“Some have been moved to 44 Reference military hospital, One division Nigeria military facility, while some are in Barau Specialist Hospital,” he said.
According to an Imam in Tubun Biri, Alhaji Ahmed Sanusi, no fewer than 100 persons were buried three days ago, while 20 more bodies were recovered by the search team and buried on Tuesday.
He added that as of Wednesday, another six bodies were recovered and buried, while another person died at Barau Dikko Teaching Hospital, bringing the death toll to 127.
“Three days ago, we buried about 100; and on Tuesday, 20 and by Wednesday, we picked up 6 and one died in the hospital this morning,” he said.
Madukwe B. Nwabuisi is an accomplished journalist renown for his fearless reporting style and extensive expertise in the field. He is an investigative journalist, who has established himself as a kamikaze reporter.
