31 civilians feared dead in Kaduna military airstrike

An airstrike by a military aircraft at Tudun Biri village in the Igabi local government area of Kaduna State was believed to have killed at least 31 people.

Residents said that the majority of the victims of the strike are women and children celebrating Maulud, the Prophet Muhammad's birthday, in the local communities.

More than 29 bodies have been found from the attack, which happened late Sunday and left many more victims unaccounted for as of Monday morning, according to resident Garba Haruna.

The attack has been denied by the Nigerian Air Force, one of the security forces conducting raids in the area.

However, in a statement, Samuel Aruwan, the overseeing commissioner of Kaduna State's Ministry of Internal Security and Home Affairs, acknowledged that Nigerian soldiers had "inadvertently" carried out the attack.

The entire statement from the state government is shown below.

The attack that occurred on Sunday night and resulted in multiple citizen deaths and injuries has been briefed to the Kaduna State Government.

At a meeting chaired by Dr. Hadiza Sabuwa Balarabe, the Deputy Governor, and attended by heads of security agencies, religious leaders, and traditional leaders, the Nigerian Army provided an explanation of the events leading up to the regrettable and inadvertent attack.

The Nigerian Army was on a routine mission against terrorists when it unintentionally affected members of the community, according to Major VU Okoro, General Officer Commanding One Division of the Nigerian Army.

At the conclusion of the private meeting, the Deputy Governor expressed to the bereaved families the condolences of the Government and People of Kaduna State and prayed for the souls of the deceased.

Source