The leadership of the Conference of Civil Society for Peace, Security and National Development has appealed to Nigerians to exercise caution and restraint over the “accidental” bombing of civilians in Tudun Biri, Igabi local government area of Kaduna State leading to the death of over 81 people.
The CSO called on government, religious, political and opinion leaders to preach and encourage their followers to exercise caution in their response to the incident. The group said the utterances of leaders and citizens at this critical time should be devoid of blame games and negative sentiments.
The group’s conveners, Chief Michael Msuaan and Mallam Adamu Kabiru regretted the attack on the civilians and sympathised with all those who lost their loved ones, property or suffered any inconvenience in the incident.
They wished those who have suffered varying degrees of injury and are receiving treatment in hospitals quick recovery.
Msuuan said the military high command had apologised to families and Nigerians over the unintended attack and pleaded with the citizens to give the federal government and President Bola Ahmed Tinubu the opportunity to investigate the incident with a view to ascertaining the cause of the bomb attack and forestalling future occurrence.
Msuaan said the vice president, Kashim Shettima, visited the site to express the regret and sympathies of President Bola Tinubu and the entire nation to the people of Tudun Biri and assured that the federal government is determined to fully probe the accidental bombing by the Nigerian Army in Tudun Biri village and thereafter punish anyone found culpable in the incident.
He also maintained that the chief of army staff, Lt. Gen. Lagbaja, swiftly visited the scene and conveyed the apologies and regrets of the military high command to the people. He noted that according to Lagbaja the incident occurred while the troops were conducting armed reconnaissance along Riyawa and Rimawa villages where the movement of suspected bandits was observed.
He also noted that the visit of the chief of army staff was also followed by the visit of the minister of state for defence, Bello Matawalle, accompanied by the chief of defence staff, Gen. Chris Musa and other military officers who all regretted the incident.
“This unfortunate attack occurred in the wake of an ongoing war against insurgency, banditry and criminality in the country. It calls for a common front and a patriotic inclination that will further place our country on the precipice of unity. We must remain united in the fight against insecurity.
“We appeal to well-meaning Nigerians to resist the temptation of using this national tragedy to fan religious, ethnic and regional divisions or to make inflammatory statements capable of aggravating tension in the country. This is rather a time to form a solid national front against insurgency and all forms of criminality,” he said.
Msuaan stated that while seeking the circumstances leading to the unintended bombing, every effort must be put in place to encourage the military to sustain their determination and onslaught to rid the country of insurgency and criminality.
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