‘AVOIDABLE ERRORS’ IN KADUNA BOMBING CAN’T BE REPEATED – TINUBU
Read Time:4 Minute, 13 Second
President Bola Tinubu on Friday described the recent bombing in Kaduna State as a series of avoidable errors, saying it cannot be repeated.
Last December, a deadly military airstrike killed at least 85 people and injured several others at Tudun Biri village in the Igabi Local Government Area of the North-Western state. The incident drew condemnation from many, with the army claiming responsibility and apologising.
A month later, President Tinubu harped on the need for coordination among security agencies in ridding the nation of internal threats.
Addressing security chiefs and heads of intelligence agencies at a Presidential Security Briefing at the State House, in Abuja, on Friday, warned the military against failing in their responsibilities.
“The success you are recording is undeniable. Nigerians are seeing it, but the avoidable errors, as witnessed recently in Kaduna, are unacceptable and cannot be repeated,” the President was quoted in a statement by his media aide, Ajuri Ngelale.
“I am pleased that coordination between all agencies has dramatically improved over recent months, but there is no room for celebrations until we can end this; until we can bring our troops back to their localities, and until we can free up resources for our critical economic expansion programme.
“I do not play with my intelligence reports. I have multiple lines of sight. The Navy and sister branches must step up their game to achieve our aims for the benefit of all Nigerians. All malign actors will be aggressively uprooted from our midst. Those working against the national agenda from within and without will meet justice. Your task is clear. We will sustain our momentum. Failure is not an option under my leadership.”
He said while good progress is being made with the elimination of some security threats across multiple theatres, success will ultimately be defined by a final conclusion to the multi-dimensional menace.
Strike Not Deliberate
The Chief of Defence Staff, General Christopher Musa, who described the air strike on Tudun Biri village as unfortunate, said it was not a deliberate action targeted against the people which the Army is to protect.
The CDS emphasised that the incident was a mix up which was avoidable.
“The incident in Kaduna is very unfortunate, I have always wanted to mention it, it’s very sad, it shouldn’t have taken place. It was a mistake and it’s because those in charge had a report something was going to happen and they got carried away and then they reacted, it wasn’t on purpose.
“My fear is when we discourage our troops; next time even when the real ones come, they will not want to act because they will say if we do and it’s a mistake, we won’t do anything. So I think we should try and look at this thing dispassionately when incidences occur.
“Nobody in his right minds will wake up and look at people and just burn them without reason, we are all Nigerians, we are meant to protect Nigerians and that is what we are doing. In the course of it we might make mistakes because we are humans but it will never be deliberate.
“So I want to appeal to all of us to firstly pray for Nigeria, pray for our leaders, stand strong, believe in this country, it’s a great and wonderful country we have and we must not let it down,” CDS Musa said.
Rebuilding Tudun Biri
On December 7, 2023, Vice President Kashim Shettima hinted at plans by the Federal Government to rebuild Tudun Biri village following the misfire from drones belonging to the Nigerian military.
According to the VP, President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has directed that the Pullako Initiative should be kick-started in Kaduna State, with a complete package, including houses, clinics, schools, veterinary clinics, empowerment initiatives and solar energy, among others, in Tudun Biri community as a way of compensation for the destruction caused by the drone misfire.
Announcing President Tinubu’s decision to rebuild the community, VP Shettima who spoke at a meeting with leaders and other stakeholders of the community said, “Most importantly, the President approved the commencement of the Pullako Initiative by next month. The Pullako Initiative is the President’s unique response as a non-kinetic approach to the challenges in the North West.
“Beneficiary states are Sokoto, Kebbi, Zamfara, Katsina, Kaduna, and for the purpose of equity and justice, we deliberately included Niger and Benue States.
“Actually, our intent was to kick off the programme in Sokoto, but in the light of recent development, the President directed that the Pullako Initiative should be kick-started here in Kaduna State. And Tudun Biri will be the first beneficiary of that scheme. We are going to build houses that will complement the efforts of the Right Honorable Speaker.
“But ours is a complete package as well, including houses, clinics, schools, veterinary clinics, empowerment initiatives and solar energy. It’s a complete package of solutions as a non-kinetic response to the problems of banditry and kidnapping in the North West.”
Happy
0 %
Sad
0 %
Excited
0 %
Sleepy
0 %
Angry
0 %
Surprise
0 %
0
0