• ACF wants GOC, top officers redeployed to facilitate probe
Following the accidental bombing of a village in Igabi Local Council of Kaduna State, which death toll reportedly hit over 127 yesterday, 26 Civil Society Organisations (CSOs) under the aegis of Action Group on Free Civic Space (AGFCS), have called on the Federal Government to compensate the victims and render unreserved apology to the village.
In a statement, yesterday, the group condemned the ‘accidental bombing’ that happened on Sunday, and confirmed by the National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA) and for which the military has accepted responsibility.
The coalition comprises Spaces for Change (S4C), Rule of Law and Accountability Advocacy Centre (RULAAC), Centre for Community Empowerment in Conflict and Peacebuilding, Foundation for Environmental Rights Advocacy and Development (FENRAD Nigeria), Vision Spring Initiatives (VSI) and Open Arms Initiative for Sustainable Development, among others.
It noted: “This regrettable and avoidable incident is part of a concerning pattern of negligence in counter-insurgency efforts and a disturbing lack of accountability within the military.
“Similar occurrences happened in Borno State in 2017, resulting in 52 fatalities and 120 injuries, and in Katsina in 2022, with a casualty and 13 injuries. More recently, in January 2023, 36 people lost their lives, and six others were injured in Kwatiri, a small settlement in Nasarawa State, in a similar incident.”
According to the group, the bombing of innocent civilians in Tudun Biri not only violates the military’s responsibility to protect civilians in armed conflict, but is also a heinous and cold-blooded murder.
It urged the Chief of Army Staff (COAS) and the Defence Headquarters (DHQ) to immediately address the escalating number of civilian casualties in counter-insurgency measures.
The group added: “Compensation should be paid with a public apology, alongside social and economic rehabilitation for victims of these heinous crimes.”
MEANWHILE, Arewa Consultative Forum (ACF) has called for the redeployment of the General Officer Commanding (GOC), One Mechanised Division, Kaduna and other top military personnel responsible for the unfortunate incident.
In a statement by ACF National Publicity Secretary, Prof Tukur Muhammad-Baba, yesterday, the Northern group said: “ACF recognises and unequivocally supports the resolve and sacrifices of the nation’s armed forces to totally exterminate banditry and terrorism in the nation. However, the Armed forces should always remember that they must remain accountable for their actions.”
“Therefore, ACF is constrained to recommend that the General Officer Commanding One Division of the Nigerian Army, Kaduna, along with his immediate subordinate officers should be redeployed to allow for unfettered investigations.
“One Division of the Nigerian Army must not and should not be allowed to investigate itself. An independent panel of investigators is clearly indicated. Further, the results of the investigations must be made public, issues that border on national security considerations excepted.”
Muhammed-Baba asked the Defence headquarters to retract its needless statement take steps to ensure that such incidents are avoided or contained to the barest minimum humanly possible.
He also pointed out that the Federal Government should not shy away from taking total responsibility of the disaster.
