TheCable

The Defence Headquarters (DHQ) says the air strikes at Tudun Biri community, in Igabi LGA of Kaduna state, were targeted at terrorists.

On Sunday, many residents were feared killed, with scores injured after air strikes were launched on the community.

The villagers were reportedly commemorating the birth of Prophet Mohammad when the jet dropped the bomb that led to the death of several persons.

Some reports have put the death toll from the incident at over 80, with scores left badly injured.

The Nigerian Army has accepted responsibility for the incident, stating that its troops were on a routine mission against terrorists when the “mistake” occurred.

In a statement on Tuesday, Edward Buba, director of defence media operations, said the Nigerian army unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) detachment observed movement of terrorists at Ligarma, an area notorious for being a haven of insurgents.

Buba said the aerial surveillance captured movement of groups of persons synonymous with terrorist tactics and modus operandi.

The media director added that the observed gathering of the terrorists posed a threat to key infrastructure within the reach of their activities.

He said the threat was eliminated to prevent the insurgents from unleashing terror on innocent civilians.

Buba added that terrorists always blend with civilian populations.

He said the military usually asks residents to alert troops of terrorists’ whereabouts.

“It should be noted that terrorists often deliberately embed themselves within civilian population centres for the civilian population to bear the consequences of their atrocities,” the statement reads.

“Nevertheless, the Nigerian military does its best at all times to distinguish between civilians and terrorists.

“The military views every civilian death in the cause of operations as a tragedy as such tragedies are needless and unwanted, which causes the armed forces to take extensive measures to avoid them.

“For instance, communities are to always alert troops of their activities particularly when such a community is known to be infested with terrorists and their sympathisers.

“These instructions are intended at enabling the military distinguish between friendly and untoward activities.”

President Bola Tinubu has ordered “a thorough and full-fledged investigation into the incident”.