By ANGO DON BALLY, with Agency Report.
The Southern Kaduna Peoples Union (SOKAPU), has condoled with the government of Kaduna State and families of those who lost their lives in Sunday military bomb tragedy in Tudun Biri village of Igabi Local Government Area of the State, calling for full scale investigation with appropriate sanctions meted on those found culpable to forestall future recurrence.
A statement issued by the Chairman, Caretaker Committee of SOKAPU, Prof. Ishaya Kato Auta, said that the union shares in the pains of the victims who sustained various degrees of injuries and currently receiving treatment in different hospitals, and also prayed for the repose of the souls whose lives were lost in the incident.
Prof. Ishaya Auta said SOKAPU regrets that “when Kaduna state is having a sigh of relief from the insecurity bedeviling the nation, owing to the new approach being deployed in fighting the insurgency by the current government, the unfortunate incident occurred where over eighty (80) lives were lost, with many who sustained injuries.”
The statement said further that, “though regrettable as the incident is, SOKAPU commended the Army for prompt admittance to responsibility, which it attributed to an error strike, with assurances of commitment to avoid future recurrence”, adding that the unfortunate incident affects the state as a whole.
“SOKAPU also commended government, both at the federal and state levels for their prompt responses in footing the hospital bills of injured persons, with commitment to give appropriate compensation to the affected families. We are calling on relevant government agencies, NGOs and well spirited individuals to complement such laudable efforts by lending their support to cushion the effect of the incident, Prof. Ishaya Auta stressed.
Meanwhile, Kaduna State Governor, Senator Uba Sani on Friday said there was no religious or ethnic cleansing in the state following the accidental bombing of Tudun Biri village in Igabi Local Government Area by the Nigerian Army.
The governor stated this during an interview on national television five days after the tragic incident that left over 85 people dead and several others injured.
Governor Sani also stated that the rebuilding of the Tudun Biri in the Igabi Local Government Area will commence in the next three weeks.
Sani’s remarks came a few hours after Vice President Kashim Shettima visited the state on a condolence visit to the affected community.
In a related development, the Northern Coalition of Socio-political Group, has called on citizens of Kaduna State and the Country in general to avoid bringing up issues of religious and ethnic sentiments.
The Deputy National President of the Coalition, Balarabe Lawal Zaria, on Friday in Kaduna, made the call in a speech at a world press conference on the reaction to issues surrounding the accidental bombing of Tudun Biri village in Igabi Local Government area in Kaduna on December 3rd, 2023.
He said it is too early and out of place for anyone to give the incident an ethnic or religious coloration when investigations about the circumstances surrounding the bombing are still ongoing.
The Coalition said religious and political leaders demanding for the sack of the Chief of Defense Staff; the Chief of Army Staff, other Service Chiefs and the GOC are unnecessarily steering up tension, stressing the need for peace and tranquility despite the ugly incident.
According to them, the Chief of Defense Staff is not for the Southern Kaduna or Kaduna Christian or Muslim rather for the whole nation, as they have seen both the Chief of Defense Staff, General Christopher Musa and the Chief of Army Staff, Lieutenant General Taoreed Lagbaja, visit the deceased victims’ families and the injured ones in hospitals in Kaduna.
Full text of SOKAPU Press statement:
SOKAPU CONDOLES WITH FAMILIES, VICTIMS AFFECTED BY KADUNA MILITARY BOMB TRAGEDY
The Southern Kaduna People’s Union (SOKAPU) wish to extend its heartfelt condolences and sympathy with the government of Kaduna State and families of those who lost their lives in the military bomb tragedy in Tudun Biri Village of Igabi Local Government Area of the State on 3rd December, 2023.
SOKAPU prays for the repose of their souls. The region’s sociocultural group also shares in the pains of the victims who sustained various degrees of injuries and currently receiving treatment in different hospitals.
SOKAPU regrets that when the state was having a sigh of relief from the insecurity bedeviling the nation, owing to the new approach being deployed in fighting the insurgency by the current government, the unfortunate incident occurred where over eighty (80) unarmed innocent lives were lost, with many who sustained injuries.
Though regrettable as it is, SOKAPU commends the Army for its prompt admittance to responsibility of the bomb tragedy, which it attributed to an error strike, with assurances of commitment to avoid future recurrence. However, SOKAPU hereby called for full investigation by the relevant professional bodies/agencies of the cause of the incident and appropriate sanction be meted on those found culpable to forestall future recurrence. We caution that the military as a professional security agency, should always adhere to professional conduct in carrying out its operations, in any location of duty.
SOKAPU wish to comment the government both at the federal and state levels for their prompt responses in footing the hospital bills of injured persons who are receiving treatment, with commitment to give appropriate compensation to the affected families.
SOKAPU hereby appealed to relevant government agencies, NGOs and spirited individuals to complement the laudable steps being taking by giving the needed support to cushion the effect of the incident, as the unfortunate incident affects the state as a whole.
Signed:
Prof. Ishaya Kato Auta
Chairman, Caretaker Committee
SOKAPU.
