By Sabiu Abdullahi
An incident that occurred on Sunday night in Tudun Biri, Igabi Local Government Area of Kaduna State, has left people in mourning as the community became the unintended target of a military operation, resulting in the loss of at least 85 lives.
The village was celebrating Maulud, an Islamic event, when the Nigerian Army dropped bombs, sparking widespread outrage.
The state government, led by Deputy Governor Hadiza Balarabe, moved swiftly to address the escalating tension. Governor Uba Sani ordered a thorough investigation into the accidental bombing to prevent future occurrences.
The government’s efforts included a meeting with Islamic clerics, traditional rulers, and heads of security agencies, where the Army explained that the incident occurred during a routine mission against terrorists.
Despite ongoing search-and-rescue efforts, with injured victims evacuated to Barau Dikko Teaching Hospital, condemnation poured in from various quarters.
The Christian Association of Nigeria, Arewa Youth Consultative Forum, Human Rights Watch, and Amnesty International expressed concern over recurrent erroneous bombings, highlighting that over 425 individuals, including children and women, had been killed in military accidental bombings from September 2017 to 2023.
The Nigerian Air Force, however, denied involvement, affirming that it had not conducted any operations in Kaduna State in the last 24 hours.
Air Commodore Edward Gabkwet, the NAF Director of Public Relations and Information, urged media caution in disseminating unverified reports.
The departed victims of the attack have been buried according to Islamic tradition.