President Bola Tinubu has sympathised with the families of victims, the people and government of Kaduna State over the Kaduna bombing mishap which is reported to have killed dozens of people and injured many. He has also ordered for a probe into the bombing of Ligarma community, in Kaduna State.
This is contained in a statement by Chief Ajuri Ngelale, Special Adviser to the President on Media and Publicity on Tuesday in Abuja.
BRANDPOWER reports that there was a bombing Sunday night of persons alleged to be conducting religious activities in a village at Tudun Biri in Igabi Local Government Area of the state. The Nigerian Army earlier explained that the vilagers were mistaken for terrorists.
He said that the president directed a thorough and full-fledged investigation into the incident and calls for calm while the authorities look into the mishap.
Ngelale said Tinubu also directed a swift and comprehensive medical attention for surviving victims while praying for the repose of the souls of the deceased.
”President Tinubu describes the incident as very unfortunate, disturbing, and painful, expressing indignation and grief over the tragic loss of Nigerian lives
Military explains cause
Meanwhile, the Defence Headquarters has said that the drone attack on Ligarma community in Igabi Local Government Area of Kaduna State on Sunday, was based on information about untoward activities of terrorists in the area.
This is contained in a statement by the Director of Defence Media Operations, Maj.-Gen. Edward Buba on Tuesday in Abuja.
Buba said the Nigerian Army Unmanned Aerial Vehicle (UAV) detachment had at about 2200hrs on Sunday, observed movement of terrorist at Ligarma, known to be a terrorist-infested area of Kaduna State.
He said the aerial surveillance captured movement of groups of persons synonymous with the terrorist tactics and modus operandi.
Buba explained that the observed advance of the terrorist that were gathered, posed a threat to key infrastructure within reach of their activities.
According to him, the threat was eliminated to prevent the terrorist from unleashing terror on innocent civilians.
“It should be noted that, terrorist often deliberately embed themselves within civilian population centres for civilian population to bear the consequences of their atrocities.
“Nevertheless, the Nigerian military does its best at all times to distinguish between civilians and terrorist.
“The military views every civilian death in the cause of operations as a tragedy as such tragedies are needless and unwanted, which causes the armed forces to take extensive measures to avoid them,” he said.
According to him, one such measures taken by the military is to continually gives precise instructions to communities.
“For instance, communities are to always alert troops of their activities particularly when such a community is known to be infested with terrorist and their sympathisers.
“These instructions are intended at enabling the military distinguish between friendly and untoward activities,” he said.
Buba said the armed forces would continue to operate in line with international laws and would also continue its determined and cautious progress in eradicating terrorist from the land.
He said the terrorists often disguised as civilian to perpetrate terror as part of their tactics, adding that the military would continue to find innovative solutions to the challenges faced in the conduct of its operations.
