Protests erupt in Zaria over Nigerian Army bombing of Kaduna community killing 120 civilians

The Nigerian Army bombing of the Tudun Biri hamlet in the Igabi local government area has sparked continuous protests in Zaria, Kaduna State, as locals air their frustrations.

Photographs show that the demonstrators carried posters that said “Justice for Arewa,” “Justice for Igabi,” and “Secure North” as they marched through the town.

One of the bloodiest accidental military bombings in the history of the nation claimed the lives of almost 120 people during airstrikes carried out by the Nigerian Army at Tudun Biri village.

Read Also: Nigerians don’t trust APC, PDP, other parties – Akpabio explains why

On Tuesday, survivors of the unintentional bombing of Tudun Biri in the Igabi Local Government Area of Kaduna State HAD claimed that the Nigerian Army had attacked their community twice. Amnesty International officials had visited the affected areas and verified the higher death toll.

It was previously reported that 66 more victims were injured in Sunday’s blast, and that National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA) zonal spokesman Halima Suleiman had confirmed 85 deaths on Monday. She added that the hunt for more casualties was still ongoing.

After the victims’ Monday funerals, she added, the local authorities provided the death toll.

“Although a search is still ongoing, the Northwest Zonal Office has learned from the local authorities that 85 dead bodies have been buried thus far,” NEMA stated.

To get to the village, rescue personnel were still in talks with local authorities to defuse the situation.

Tuesday saw President Bola Tinubu order an investigation after the army admitted that one of its drones had inadvertently struck Tudun Biri hamlet when the locals were enjoying a Muslim holiday.

Residents reported that 85 individuals, many of them women and children, had died in the incident; the army did not provide any official death toll.

According to a statement sent by the presidential spokesman, Ajuri Ngelale, “President Tinubu describes the incident as very unfortunate, disturbing, and painful, expressing indignation and grief over the tragic loss of Nigerian lives.”