Kaduna announces compensation committee for victims of military airstrike

The Kaduna state government has set up a committee to provide compensation and support to victims of the military airstrike at Tudun Biri village in Igabi LGA.

On Sunday, many residents who were gathered to commemorate Maulud, the celebration of the birth of the Islamic Prophet Muhammad, were hit by a military airstrike targeted at suspected terrorists.

The military has claimed responsibility for the incident, noting that it was a ‘mistake’ made by its troops during a routine mission against terrorists operating in the area.

In a statement on Tuesday, Hadiza Balarabe, deputy governor of Kaduna, announced the compensation committee when she led a delegation of senior government officials to the community.

Balarabe said the committee is made up of senior government officials, religious leaders, and representatives of the Nigerian Army.

She said the committee “will oversee mechanisms of compensation and other forms of government assistance to the victims”.

She extended condolences to families of victims who lost their lives and those who sustained injuries during the incident.

She said the government has directed the State Emergency Management Agency (SEMA) to provide relief materials to support the victims.

The deputy governor added that the government has also ordered the transfer of victims who sustained injuries to Barau Dikko Teaching Hospital for proper medical attention.

Also, Bello Matawalle, minister of state for defence, led a delegation comprising Christopher Musa, chief of defence staff, Toareed Lagbaja, chief of army staff, and Ibrahim Kana, permanent secretary at the ministry of defence, to sympathise with members of the community.