ASHENEWS reports that the Arewa Consultative Forum (ACF) has demanded a full, thorough, honest, and open investigation into Sunday’s incident where a Nigerian Army military drone killed dozens of civilians in Kaduna state.
The forum stated this in a statement issued by its National Publicity Secretary, Prof Tukur Muhammad Baba on Tuesday.
Dozens of civilians were killed by a Nigerian Army drone after it hit a group of people on a Maulud procession at Tudun Biri community, Afaka Ward, near Rigasa, in Igabi Local Government Area of Kaduna State on Sunday evening.
During his visit to the community on Tuesday, the Chief of Army Staff, Lt. Gen. Taoreed Lagbaja told journalists that the Nigerian Army accepted responsibility for the incident which occurred as a result of an error by its personnel.
However, the forum said that the investigation must be undertaken to establish what exactly happened, who was involved, and how, and also ascertain the number of casualties.
“The Army authorities remain mute about casualty figures, even if tentative. However, from what can be discerned from various reports, as many as 80 (and possibly more) people, mostly children and women, were killed with scores injured.
“Further details are still being awaited.
ACF is perplexed and deeply disturbed that such an operation could be contemplated and executed in this densely populated area, suggesting an inexcusable, scandalous, and plausibly incompetent failure of intelligence. It is indeed trite to say that sound intelligence is the fulcrum of military operations,
“While the army authorities have come out with the usual platitude of “investigating” the matter, there is a need to be more forthcoming on the details, even if to douse the feeling in many quarters that there was an initial attempt to downplay the incident except for the vigilance of some members of the public.
It demanded that all those found guilty of professional or operational incompetence must be severely disciplined, and transparently so.
“The investigation must be undertaken with the full participation of the people of the affected community (who must not be intimidated into keeping quiet on the gory details of their losses).
“For emphasis, the Kaduna State Government has a duty to act to protect the interest of the victims and not the Nigerian Army personnel that perpetrated the incident.
“Full compensation must be paid for the dead by current Islamic diya value for individual lives.
“The injured must not only be fully treated free of charge but must also be rehabilitated on full recovery, as well as fully compensated for losses of livelihoods and incomes while on the road to full recovery.
“To restore confidence of the people, the Nigerian Army, must apologize to the people of the communities affected by the incident.
“Additionally, as a sign of good faith, the Nigerian Army should immediately undertake medical and other community rehabilitation outreach in the affected communities.
“The Chief of Defence Staff should order all elements of the military to evolve a sound strategy to avoid the experience of mishaps such as had occurred at Tudun Biri, Igabi Local Government Area of Kaduna State.
“The tragedy ought not to and should never have happened. No community, anywhere in the country, should ever have to suffer such horrific and tragic incidents.”
