In the aftermath of the tragic incident that claimed the lives of at least 120 individuals and left around 60 others injured in the bomb attack on Tundun Biri village in Igabi Local Government Area of Kaduna State, Chief of Defence Staff (CDS) Musa has emphatically denied allegations that the bombing was intentionally executed to target a specific ethnic group.
The devastation, which occurred on a fateful Sunday night, has ignited a wave of concern and speculation regarding the motives behind the military’s actions.
Addressing the public in an interview on Arise TV on Tuesday night, CDS Musa expressed his deep regret over the unfortunate incident and sought to dispel any insinuations of a deliberate attack on a particular ethnic or religious group.
He stated, “We are doing our best to ensure that we defeat the terrorists, and mistakes do happen. It has nothing to do with tribe or religion, but anyone who has that kind of thought is not being truthful or sincere.”
Musa went on to highlight the diverse composition of the affected community, noting, “That community is a mixture of Christians, Muslims, and different ethnic groups. Sometimes, people react differently when they don’t have full information.”
Explaining the circumstances that led to the tragic mistake, CDS Musa disclosed that the villagers’ movements and congregation resembled the patterns of terrorists, misleading the army into believing they were a threat.
He acknowledged the challenges of distinguishing between innocent civilians and potential threats, particularly in situations where individuals unknowingly mimic the behavior of terrorists.
The CDS expressed his concern over the proximity of civilians to terrorists, emphasizing how it hampers the overall progress in the war against terror.
He said, “After receiving information on the threat of attack within the general area, they followed up and saw individuals moving, just the same way the terrorists move.
And then they went to congregate under a tree just the way the terrorists do, and from there, they felt it was time for them to act, and they reacted.”
Musa acknowledged the complexity of conducting operations in areas densely populated with civilians, stating, “We have had a series of times that we had to call off strikes because we felt civilians were involved.
I can tell you for free that this operation is prolonged because most times when we go on strike, and there are civilians, we must avoid striking.”
In a commitment to transparency and accountability, the CDS assured the public that the military would thoroughly review the incident, learn from any mistakes made, and implement measures to prevent a recurrence.
The incident serves as a poignant reminder of the challenges inherent in combating terrorism while safeguarding civilian lives, prompting a collective call for precision and caution in military operations to avert further tragedies.
