Governor Uba Sani of Kaduna state has expressed dissatisfaction with the statement issued by the Defence Headquarters (DHQ) concerning the recent air strikes in Tundun Biri community, located in the Igabi Local Government Area (LGA) of Kaduna state. Speaking during an interview on Channels Television on Friday, Governor Sani questioned the validity of the DHQ’s assertion that terrorists were embedded within the civilian population targeted during the air strikes.
The incident, which occurred on Sunday, resulted in numerous casualties, with residents reportedly commemorating the birth of Prophet Mohammad when the air strikes occurred.
While the Nigerian Army took responsibility for the tragedy, citing a “mistake” during a routine mission against terrorists, the DHQ released a statement emphasizing that terrorists often use civilians as shields. The DHQ stated that the air strikes were intended to target the insurgents.
Governor Sani expressed skepticism over the DHQ’s claim and stressed the need for verification regarding the presence of terrorists in the community. He asserted that the focus should be on demonstrating empathy for the victims rather than offering excuses.
Describing the incident as unfortunate and avoidable, Governor Sani highlighted the importance of the Chief of Staff taking responsibility in calming the affected community. He urged attention to the statements of key authorities, including the Chief of Army Staff, the President, Vice President, Minister of Defence, and the National Security Adviser.
