It was sweet relief for survivors of the accidental bombing of Tundun Biri village on a religious procession in Kaduna. They got a N109 million pledge from senators.
The senators, who sent a delegation to commiserate with victims and sympathise with the survivors of the drone misfire, announced the donation of N1 million each by all 109 members of the Red Chamber.
They vowed to thoroughly investigate the incident.
President Bola Ahmed Tinubu had vowed to punish anyone found culpable in the accidental bombing.
The villagers were hit last Sunday by the Nigerian Army Unmanned Aerial Vehicle (UAV) on routine terrorists’ chase in Tudun Biri, Igabi Local Government Area of the state.
The National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA) confirmed that 85 persons were killed, while 66 others were injured in the error attack.
Deputy Senate President Barau Jibrin and leader of the delegation yesterday announced the donation on behalf of the Senate President Godswill Akpabio at the Kaduna Government House during a visit to Governor Uba Sani.
Senator Barau said the money would be sent to the state governor for onward delivery to the victims.
Praying to Allah to grant those who lost their lives paradise, the deputy senate president wished the injured quick recovery.
He said: “Let me state clearly that the Senate has been in contact with the President of this country, who is also highly disturbed and has ordered a thorough investigation of the incident.
“We are all on the same page with the executive arm of the government and we will continue to work in partnership to unravel what happened and also take measures to prevent this kind of unfortunate incident from recurring.
“We are here to show our solidarity and to show the fact that we stand by the people, we stand by the government and indeed the entire people of the state, particularly the people of Tudun Biri in this trying period.
“We will partner with you and do all within our power to bring succor to those who are affected by this unfortunate incident.
“It is on this note that I want to announce, on behalf of the President of the Senate and the entire Senate, that we have decided that we are going to donate our December salaries to the victims. A total of N109 million will be made available to the governor so that it can be channeled to help the victims.”
Thanking the senators for their donation, the governor said: “What I can say here today is that I am really happy with the level of support, level of empathy and solidarity by the people of this country, from Mr. President, Vice President, to the leadership of the Senate and the National Assembly generally, as well as the good people of Nigeria.
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“I also want to make it clear today that here in Kaduna we have received this thing with shock, but unfortunately in the last few days, some people are trying to make it look like it is either an ethnic or religious issue. We are one family; there is no difference between Muslims and Christians in Kaduna. This incident can happen anywhere in Nigeria and is about humanity.
“What we are asking for is justice for the people of Tudun Biri who lost their lives and those in the hospital. I would like to also call on the National Assembly, particularly the Senate to join the Kaduna State government and the good people of Nigeria in calling for a probe and investigation into this incident.
“I will also urge the members of the National Assembly to look at the laws that have to do with security agencies in Nigeria so that they can strengthen those institutions.”
Sani called for synergy between the security agencies, saying that, future occurrence of such incident would be averted if the security agencies work on the same page and share intelligence.
In the Upper Chamber’s delegation were Senate Leader (Micheal Opayemi Bamidele); Chief Whip Ali Ndume; Minority Leader Abba Moro; Deputy Minority Leader Kamorudeen Olarere; senators Abdulhamid Malam-Madori; Aliyu Ikra Bilbis; Ibrahim Bomoi; Ibrahim Lamido; Abdulaziz Yar’Adua; Victor Umeh; Muntari Dandutse; Lawal Usman; Emmanuel Udende and Sani Musa.
There were at the Barau Dikko Teaching Hospital to see the injured.
N/East elders defends military
Also yesterday, the North East Elders for Restoration and Development (NEERD) described as malicious and insensitive, insinuations that the military leadership was complicit in the recent unfortunate incident in Tudun Biri, Kaduna State.
NEERD’s defence came in a statement by its President, Mallam Buba Tanko and the Secretary, Alhaji Ibrahim Bello.
The North East elders, who described as unfortunate that ethno-religious sentiments were being used to blackmail the military, that had continued to make sacrifices for the peace and stability of the country.
They said that those raising the allegations should have studied the antecedent of the present leadership of the military, especially the Chief of Defence, Gen. Christopher Musa.
The statement reads: “It is unfortunate that some of our people are being used to escalate the tension in the North for selfish interest.
“For example, the Chief of Defence Staff (CDS), Gen, Christopher Musa, was Theatre Commander, Operation Hadin Kai.
“His stay in the North-East is enough to vouch that the Armed Forces of Nigeria under him will not descend to attack those it is protecting.
“During his stay in the North-East, Gen. Musa ensured that peace was not only restored but people, irrespective of ethnicity and religion began to return to their various means of livelihood.
“We must not be blinded by ethno-religious sentiments at this time the country is going through economic and security challenges. Any one bringing up these insinuations at this time, don’t love Nigeria.”
LP demands identities of bomb victims
The Labour Party (LP) asked the Federal Government to publish the names of victims of accidental drone attack, saying it would ensure compensation for their families.
In a statement by its National Publicity Secretary, Obiora Ifoh, the party said: “One week after the catastrophic mishap in Tudun Biri village of Kaduna state’s Igabi council area where some villagers gathered to observe the holiday celebrating the birthday of the Prophet Muhammad which led to an untimely death of Nigerians, the LP is calling on the government to publish the names of the dead and ensure that members of their families are well compensated.”
The party cautioned against bombing a target without precision and intelligence.
