December 5, 2023 NewsOrient
By Kelechi Eke

Shortly after the Nigerian Army took responsibility for Sunday’s air strike at Tudun Biri village in Kaduna State, saying it was an accidental bombing, National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA) has said the bomb killed 85 villagers.

The North-West zonal spokesman of NEMA, Halima Suleiman, who confirmed this, told Channels Television that “66 other victims were also injured in the Sunday’s bombing.”

She said the fatality figure was gotten from the local authorities after the burial of the victims on Monday.

“The Northwest Zonal Office has received details from the local authorities that 85 dead bodies have so far been buried while a search is still ongoing,” NEMA said

NewsOrient reports that after the Sunday bombing, there was confusion over the actual bombers and the fatality figure.

Initial reports said it was Nigeria Air Force that operated the planes that dropped the bombs.

But NAF, through Air Force Spokesman, Air Commodore Edward Gabkwet, denied Nigeria Air Force involvement, pointing out that Air Force is not the only security agency operating drones in the area.

Later, Kaduna State Commissioner for Internal Security and Home Affairs, Samuel Aruwan, confirmed that it was Nigeria Army that operated the planes that dropped the fatal bomb(s).

Aruwan disclosed the development at the end of an emergency security meeting on Monday, chaired by Kaduna State Deputy Governor, Dr Hadiza Balarabe.

Also in attendance at the meeting was the Air Officer Commanding Air Training Command of the Nigerian Air Force.

Nigerian Army has said the bombing was in error.

Meanwhile, President Bola Ahmed Tinubu on Tuesday ordered an investigation as the army acknowledged that it was one of its drones that accidentally dropped the fatal bombs.

Tinubu, through his spokesman, Ajuri Ngelale, described the incident as “very unfortunate, disturbing, and painful.”

~ NewsOrient