Amnesty International, a non-governmental organization has condemned the annihilation of over 120 civilians who were celebrating Maulud in Tundun Biri village in Igabi Local government area of Kaduna State on Sunday night by the Nigerian Army.
The Nigerian Air Force mistakenly dropped a bomb on Muslim worshippers observing the Maulud day in the Tudun Biri community in North-West Nigeria killing over 120 people.
Condemning the act, Amnesty International stated that air raids are not a legitimate law enforcement method and show disregard for human lives while calling for a thorough investigation of the act.
“Amnesty International strongly condemns air strikes by the Nigerian Army launched on Tudun Biri village in Igabi LGA of Kaduna state. Over 120 civilians have been killed and dozens injured. Launching air raids is not a legitimate law enforcement method by anyone’s standard. The air strike on the village community while holding a religious gathering on Sunday 3 Nov. 2023 must be investigated.
Such reckless use of deadly force is unlawful and lays bare the Nigerian military’s shocking disregard for the lives of those it supposedly exists to protect. The air strikes on Tudun Biri village are an unlawful and excessive force on a catastrophic scale. It is yet another tragic example where Nigeria’s armed forces are found applying deadly military tactics to law enforcement situations. On January 24, 2023, a Nigerian military airstrike killed over 40 civilians in Doma LGA of Nasarawa state.”
Also condemning the killing, the former Senator representing Kaduna Central Shehu Sani asserted that bombs should be dropped on terrorists and not civilians.
“A call to the Kaduna village where bombs were dropped on religious worshippers reported that over 150 people were killed. A tragic, horrific, and condemnable act. These bombs should be dropped on terrorists and not civilians.”
Accepting responsibility, in a meeting which was presided over by the Deputy Governor of Kaduna State, Dr. Hadiza Sabuwa Balarabe, attended by heads of security agencies and religious and traditional leaders, the Nigerian Army explained the circumstances which led to what it called “unfortunate and unintended”.
In a statement issued by the Overseeing Commissioner, Ministry of Internal Security and Home Affairs, Kaduna State, Samuel Aruwan, the General Officer Commanding One Division closed-door, Major VU Okoro explained that the Nigerian Army was on a routine mission against terrorists but inadvertently affected members of the community.
The Deputy Governor at the end of the closed-door meeting, conveyed the condolences of the Government and People of Kaduna State to the families that lost their loved ones and prayed for the repose of the victims’ souls.
Meanwhile, search-and-rescue efforts are still ongoing, as dozens of injured victims have been evacuated to Barau Dikko Teaching Hospital by the Government.
In January 2023, there was an accidental bombing in Rukubi village in Nasarawa state where over 40 civilians died and many sustained serious injuries.
