Nigeria’s military has admitted that it accidentally bombed a village in Kaduna State, killing 81 civilians and injuring 70 others, in an operation against bandits last Sunday.

The Director of Defence Media Operations, Major Gen Edward Buba, said the incident was a regrettable mistake and vowed that the military would be more cautious in future bombings.

“We will be 100 percent sure of our target before we carry out bombings,” he said, adding that the military would conduct an investigation and punish anyone found to be negligent.

According to a report by Vanguard, He also dismissed allegations by some groups that the bombing was aimed at reducing the population of the North, saying the armed forces of Nigeria was a professional force with members from every tribe and ethnic group.

“We should realise that it is not just the military that is at war, all the country is at war. We are in it together. The country is taking part in the war. We will make sure that going forward, we get more training, more understanding of the processes and protocols involved to make sure that next time, we are 100 percent sure before we carry out bombings,” he said.

Calls for better technology and compensation

The Christian Association of Nigeria, CAN, has called for the armed forces to be equipped with more accurate surveillance technology and intelligent devices to avoid such errors in the future.

CAN President, Archbishop Daniel Okoh, expressed condolences to the victims and the Kaduna State Government, and urged the government to prioritise the safety of civilians and take necessary actions to curb terrorism nationwide.

He also appealed to all interest groups, both political and religious, to refrain from capitalizing on the tragic incident for personal gain.

“The focus should remain on supporting the affected communities and working together to prevent future occurrences,” he said.

The apex Igbo socio-cultural organisation, Ohanaeze Ndigbo Worldwide, also condemned the accidental bombing, which it described as unfortunate.

Ohanaeze said its President General, Dr. Emmanuel Iwuanyanwu, urged President Bola Tinubu to launch an investigation into the incident and ensure that those responsible face the full weight of the law.

The United States government, through the Bureau of Arms Control, Deterrence, and Stability, said the deployment of Artificial Intelligence would help the Nigerian armed forces to reduce the incidents of accidental bombings in its war against terrorism and other security threats to the barest minimum.

The Deterrence Bureau said the adoption of AI by the Nigerian military would improve its precision capabilities and prevent it from running foul of international humanitarian law.

President Tinubu vows to punish culprits

Meanwhile, President Bola Tinubu, who visited the victims at Barau Dikko Teaching Hospital Kaduna, yesterday, vowed that whoever was found wanting in the error drone bombing would be punished accordingly.

Represented by the Vice President Kashim Shattima, Tinubu said the Federal Government remained committed to the fight against banditry across the region.

He also said the government would rebuild Tudun Biri village in Igabi Local Government Area of Kaduna State, under the Pullako Initiative, which would commence by next month.

The Pullako Initiative is the President’s unique response as a non-kinetic approach to the challenges in the North West, which would include houses, clinics, schools, veterinary clinics, empowerment initiatives and solar energy, among others, in the affected communities.

Tinubu thanked the religious and community leaders who served as stabilizing forces in the trying moment and urged Nigerians to support the government in its efforts to restore peace and security in the country.