Bombed victims’ activities similar to bandits’ – Army chief Lagbaja
Lieutenant General Taoreed Lagbaja, chief of Army staff, has said that the military pilots on a bombing campaign “wrongly analyzed and misinterpreted their pattern of activities to be similar to that of the bandits.”
The fatal strike that took place at Tudun Biri community in Igabi Local Government Area of Kaduna State killed about 80 villagers and left several others injured.
Brigadier General Onyema Nwachukwu, Director, Army Public Relations, said Lagbaja paid a commiseratory visit to the affected village.
He said, “The Army Chief arrived the community in the early hours of Tuesday, December 5 2023, 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.
“The COAS in an emotion laden speech expressed regrets on the unfortunate mishap, describing it as a very disheartening occurrence.
Gen. Lagbaja said that terrorists activities upticked in the area in recent times, necessitating the strike.
“He pointed out, that the troops were carrying out aerial patrols when they observed a group of people and wrongly analyzed 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 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.”
