…Bombing regrettable, embarrassment for Army, Nigeria – Peter Obi

….Miscalculated air strikes now worrisome  –  Atiku

Amidst more knocks trailing  the military’s accidental bombardment of residents of Tudun Biri community in  Igabi Local Government Area of Kaduna State, the Chief of Army Staff (COAS) Lieutenant General Taoreed Lagbaja has paid a condolence visit to the community, tendering apologies.

The Army Chief arrived the community in the early hours of Tuesday, accompanied by Principal Staff Officers from the Army Headquarters and the General Officer Commanding 1 Division, where he met with the Dangaladima Zazau, the District Head of Rigasa, Architect Aminu Idris, other leaders and members of the community.

A statement by the Director, Army Public Relations, Brigadier General Onyema Nwachukwu read, “The COAS in an emotion-laden speech expressed regrets on the unfortunate mishap, describing it as a very disheartening occurrence.

“Speaking further, Gen Lagbaja noted that in the recent past, the general area of Tudun Biri and adjoining villages were infested with armed bandits, who terrorised the communities, until troops of the Nigerian Army started conducting operations to sanitise the area and make it habitable.

“He pointed out that the troops were carrying out aerial patrols when they observed a group of people and wrongly analysed and misinterpreted their pattern of activities to be similar to that of the bandits, before the drone strike.

“The COAS stated that he was in Tudun Biri to personally witness the site of the mishap and to convey sincere regrets and unreserved apologies on behalf of the Nigerian Army to the District Head and people of the community, as well as the  Government and entire people of Kaduna State.

“He disclosed that he has ordered a thorough inquiry into the incident to ascertain and identify areas of deficiency that led to the inadvertent disaster, adding that the findings and overarching outcome of the investigation will guide the NA in meticulously and professionally seeking and applying lasting solutions to identified lapses and deficiencies in both the human and Artificial Intelligence variables that will forestall future recurrence.

“The District Head of Rigasa, Architect Aminu Idris in his remarks said despite the enormity of the incident, the Nigerian Army showed integrity in accepting responsibility for the drone strike and urged its leadership to intervene in bringing succour to hospitalised victims and the community for their losses. He maintained that the community is a mixed community of both Muslims and Christians and that the victims are of both faith, contrary to earlier insinuation that the community is solely Muslim. “General Lagbaja also commiserated with the Chairman Jamaa’ atu Nasru Islam, Kaduna State Prof Shafiu Abdullahi and other clerics.

“The Chief of Army Staff equally visited affected victims at the Barua Dikko Teaching Hospital Anguwan  Rimi, Kaduna, where he expressed concern for the speedy recuperation of the hospitalized persons and made an immediate donation of several provisions for their upkeep.”

…Miscalculated air strikes becoming worrisome — Atiku

Meanwhile, joining knocks over the mishap, former Vice President Atiku Abubakar, has expressed concerns over the number of accidental Nigerian military air strikes which have killed dozens of civilians and left several others injured. Atiku, who was the Presidential candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, in the 2023 election, said this in a post on his X (formerly Twitter) handle, on Tuesday.

He described the latest miscalculated military drone attack which killed dozens and injured several civilians in Tudun Biri community, in Igali Local Government Area of Kaduna State, as tragic.

While expressing grief over the incident, Atiku said, “I am grieved by the news of the drone airstrike that killed dozens of people and left scores of others with various degrees of injury in the Tudun Biri community in Igabi Local Government Area of Kaduna State. Ironically, the victims of this unfortunate incident were celebrating the Maulud anniversary.

“The incidence of miscalculated air strikes is assuming a worrisome dimension in the country. “We need to develop counterinsurgency strategies that will insulate the civilian population from tragic incidents of this nature.

“I call on the authorities to launch a thorough investigation into this tragedy to avert future occurrences. “Meanwhile, no resource should be spared in medical attention to the injured and assistance to the families of the dead. I pray that the Almighty Allah comforts the bereaved families and grants the dead eternal peace.”

…Bombing regrettable, embarrassment for Army, Nigeria – Peter Obi

On his part, Presidential candidate of the Labour Party in the 2023 election, Mr. Peter Obi has described the bombing of Tudun Biri Villagers by the Nigerian Army as regrettable.

Obi made this assertion in a statement via his official X (formerly Twitter) handle on Tuesday, saying the incident is an embarrassment for the Nigerian Army and the country.

Obi said any incident that leads to harm or the loss of lives of the innocent people they are meant to protect should be avoided. The former Governor of Anambra State, who said the bombing mishap is highly regrettable, asked the military to exercise utmost caution and professionalism to avoid this kind of embarrassment to both the military and the country. Obi also called on the security agencies to work with reliable human intelligence reports on the ground before any offensive attack to avoid innocent casualties, as has been recorded in Kaduna. He also commiserated with families that lost their loved ones and prayed to God Almighty to forgive their sins and grant them eternal rest.

He stated, “I read with sadness, the devastating reports of the accidental bombing of Tudun Biri Village in the Igabi Local Government Area of Kaduna State, by a Nigerian Army craft that mistook the villagers for terrorists.

“The lethal incident left death tolls reported to have risen to 80, with several others injured. While our military continues to fight impressively against insecurity in many parts of the country, they must exercise utmost caution and professionalism to avoid this kind of embarrassment to both the military and the country. “Any incident that leads to harm or the loss of lives of the innocent people they are meant to protect should be avoided.

“Even though the mishap is one too many, the security agencies should work with reliable human intelligence reports on the ground before any offensive attack to avoid innocent casualties, as has been reported in this case.

“Fatal mistakes like this leave indelible trauma on the families who have lost their loved ones to this ugly and unfortunate mishap. I sincerely commiserate with families that lost their loved ones.“And to the dead, I pray God Almighty to forgive their sins and grant them eternal rest, and quick healing to the injured. We pray that such a mistake leading to a sorrowful outcome, as this, never happens again in our country.“It is regrettable that the problem of insecurity in our nation has persisted for so long that we are now paying such unintended human costs as collateral damage.” Recall that not less than 80 Muslims reportedly lost their lives in the incident, which occurred on Sunday night during the celebration of Maulud Nabiy in the village.

…Embraces non-kinetic approach to tackling insecurity in S’East

Vice President Kashim Shettima received a delegation led by the Deputy Speaker of the House of Representatives, Rt. Hon. Benjamin Kalu, on a courtesy visit to the Presidential Villa.

The delegation under the auspices of Peace In South East Project (PISE-P) visited the VP to present the initiative and invite him for the launch of the project that proposes a non-kinetic solution to the crisis in the South East region.

Members of the delegation included Hon. Leko Gambo, member representing Dass/Bogoro/Tafawa Balewa Federal Constituency of Bauchi State; Hon. Jonathan Ajirioghene Ukodhiko, member representing Isoko North/South Federal Constituency of Delta State; Hon. Ibori-Suenu Erhiatake, member representing Ethiope East/Ethiope West Federal Constituency of Delta State; Hon. Bukar Talba, member representing the Monguno / Nganzai /Marte Federal Constituency of Borno State; Hon Emeka Wogu, former Minister of  Labour and Productivity; Hon. Toby Okechukwu, the Chief of Staff to the Deputy Speaker of the House of Representatives and Mr Elton Onwu.

Speaking, Kalu highlighted the importance of addressing the sociological factors contributing to the unrest, expressing belief that a non-kinetic approach, focusing on changing the narrative and reorienting the minds of the people, can be more effective.

“We understand that many zones in the country face similar security challenges. However, PISE-P proposes a non-kinetic approach to address these issues that have impacted the economy of the South East and Nigeria,” he said.

He stressed the urgency of finding solutions, just as he said, “We cannot ignore these challenges; we must face them head-on. The current situation has severely affected our lives and our sense of unity.”

Kalu expressed optimism that the Peace in South East Project could bring hope to the region, similar to how other parts of the country have seen improvement.

“We want to start a conversation that helps change the perception and mindset in the South East,” he explained, adding that “this cannot be achieved through guns and violence.”

The Deputy Speaker emphasised the need for initiatives that foster a sense of belonging and inclusion, even as he acknowledged the government’s limitations and stressed the importance of collaborating with development partners under the Peace in South East Project.

Speaking after a brief introduction of the new initiative, the Vice President endorsed the concept, noting that the “approach is the most beautiful I have seen so far.

“We need to build bridges, there is a need for a handshake, that way, those that have not been radicalised can be captured,” he added.

The Vice President further explained the wisdom in adopting a non-kinetic approach in addressing the security situation in the South East, saying it would save the region from endless war.

He stated, “Unless we want to engage in an endless war of attrition, a non-kinetic solution to the crisis in the South East must be explored and deployed. The most atrocious of wars are at the end of the day sorted out on the negotiation table.

“It is how you build bridges that will determine how far you go as a people and society. We have to reach out to the youths; we have to empower them. Once we empower them, the crisis, the agitation and insecurity will vanish.”

The Nigerian Customs Service has come under heat as the Nigerian Senate is probing it for failing to remit N62 billion as revenue.

The Senate Committee on Public Accounts chaired by Senator Aliyu Ahmed Wadada accused the agency of under-remitting revenue to the nation’s coffers.

The Chairman of the committee summoned the NCS to come up with their defence on the allegation of under remittance in two weeks time.

Relying on the 2017 Auditor General’s Report forwarded to it, the Senate Committee queried the total remittance of the agency in 2017.

The query read,  “In the report of NCS summary of the monthly collection 2017 total collection for the Federation account was N691 billion.”

“However, the receipt of NCS collection and remittance into Federation account 2017 showed actual remittance into Federation account with the CBN for the year under review to be N629 billion. A comparison of these two documents revealed an under-remittance of N62 billion.

“There was no footnote or any form of additional information attached to the two reports.showing the reasons for the discrepancies neither there was any form of communication of the management on the intention for the future reconciliation or remittance.

“The above anomalies could be attributed to weaknesses in the internal control system at Nigeria Customs Service Headquarters Abuja.”