PHOTOS: Army chief visits Kaduna, apologises to community hit by military air strike

Taoreed Lagbaja, chief of army staff (COAS), has visited Tudun Birni in Igabi LGA of Kaduna state to commiserate with members of the community after military air strike killed score of villagers on Sunday.

According to multiple reports, the death toll from the bombing was over 80, with scores left badly injured.

The Nigerian Army has claimed responsibility for the incident, stating that its troops were on a routine mission against terrorists when the “mistake” occurred.

Onyema Nwachukwu, army spokesperson, in a statement on Tuesday, said Lagbaja described the incident as a “very disheartening occurrence.”

“The Chief of Army Staff (COAS) Lieutenant General Taoreed Lagbaja has paid a condolence visit to Tudun Birni community in Igabi Local Government Area of Kaduna State,” the statement reads.

“The COAS in an emotion laden speech expressed regrets on the unfortunate mishap, describing it as a very disheartening occurrence.

The army spokesperson quoted Lagbaja as saying that the general area of Tudun Birni and adjoining villages were infested in recent time with armed bandits, who terrorised the communities.

According to Nwachukwu,  the COAS added that the troops started conducting operations after that discovery to sanitise the area and make it habitable.

He pointed out that the troops were carrying out aeriel 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”. Nwachukwu added.

“The COAS stated that he was in Tudun Birni 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 said.

“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.”

Nwachukwu added that the army chief visited injured victims of the incident who are receiving treatment at the Barau Dikko Teaching Hospital.

Below are pictures from the visit.