Ohanaeze condoles with Kaduna on army drone attack

Ohanaeze Ndigbo condoles with Kaduna State Government and families of Sunday’s misdirected army drone attack that reportedly killed 85 persons.

The attack happened last Sunday, 3 December 2023, at Tudun Biri village in Igabi Local Government Area of Kaduna State.

Multiple government and media reports claim that the army drone peppered the village with bombs that also left over 50 injured.

Chairman of Ohanaeze, Chief Emmanuel Iwuanyanwu, described the incident as condemnable.

Initial eye witness report by Leadership newspaper put the number of dead at 80 and injured at 55.

However, Punch newspaper reported on Wednesday that the death toll rose to 120, quoting Amnesty International sources.

Ohanaeze Chief, Dr Iwuanyanwu expressed “deep sorrow over the avoidable incident.”

He encouraged President Bola Tinubu to thoroughly investigate the incident and punish those found negligent or culpable.

The investigation will enable the Nigerian Army to “attain a more prudent, skillful, professional military-civilian engagements in their operations,” he said.

He also described the tragedy as a paradox given Nigeria’s current challenges with bandits, kidnappers and insurgents. 

Iwuanyanwu pleaded with the President to compensate families of those who lost their loved ones in the incident.

He also appealed for government assistance to hospitalised victims to enable them get speedy medical attention.

“On behalf of the National Executive Committee of Ohanaeze Ndigbo Worldwide and indeed the entire Igbo, we sympathize with the affected families, the government and the good people of Kaduna State for this very unfortunate tragedy.

Ohanaeze spokesperson, Dr Chiedozie Alex Ogbonnia, endorsed the statement released to newsmen this afternoon of 7 December 2023.

The Sunday incident

The drone attack happened on Sunday night of 3 December, and was wrongly targeted against worshippers at a Maulud celebration.

The Army said in a statement that it was attempting to flush out terrorists but ended up targeting the wrong group.

Kaduna Gov Uba Sani ordered the wounded to be evacuated to the Emergency Unit of Barau Dikko Teaching Hospital Kaduna for medical attention.

“The Government will be responsible for their treatment and related logistics,” he said.

The Kaduna State Government also confirmed that the Nigerian Army was responsible for the drone attack.

State Deputy governor, Dr Hadiza Sabuwa Balarabe, disclosed this at an emergency security meeting.

Governor Uba Sani has ordered an independent investigation of the tragic bombing.