Residents of Tundun Biri village in Igabi County of Northwest Kaduna State were killed in a devastating airstrike carried out by the Nigerian military on Sunday night. Several others were critically injured from the bomb explosion, which an army chief told state officials was a mistake.
Those bombed were Muslims gathered for the Maulud [birthday of the Prophet] celebration at about 9:00 p.m. Sunday. The celebration coincided with the time the Nigerian military was chasing a gang of terrorists. A bomb was dropped which “inadvertently affected members of the community,” Major General Valentine Okoro told government officials on Monday.
The military’s serial surveillance captured bandits assembling with villagers. “Accordingly, the threat was eliminated to prevent the terrorists from unleashing terror on innocent civilians,” Abuja’s Defence Headquarters spokesperson Edward Buba said.
The airstrike left more than 120 persons dead, according to Amnesty International. The Nigerian Army has not officially disclosed how many bandits were killed, but villagers said only civilians were in the death toll. The state governor is reluctant to publicly demand accountability or criticize the military for the tragedy.
—Ezinwanne Onwuka reports for TruthNigeria from Abuja.
