Governor Uba Sani of Kaduna State has alleged that the security agencies in Nigeria were not working in synergy over the Tudun-Biri community error bombing.
The Governor therefore called for intelligence sharing among the security agencies while enjoining the Senate to help ensure that the survivors get justice.
This is as Labour Party (LP) has urged the Federal Government to publish the names of the dead in the Tudun Biri village, Igabi Local Government Area of Kaduna State error bombing. The party also stated that families of the victims must be well compensated.
Governor Sani, who spoke to a delegation of the Senate led by Deputy Senate President, Senator Barau Jibrin, who on a condolence visit on Sunday, assured that the Kaduna State government would continue to support the nation’s defence and security agencies in the discharge of their constitutional duties.
The Deputy Senate President’s entourage included Senators Ali Ndume, Lawal Usman, Abba Moro, Opeyemi Bamidele, Naziru Yar’Adua, and others. They earlier visited and commiserated with the injured victims at Barau Dikko Teaching Hospital, Kaduna.
Sani also sought a speedy investigation into the error bombing by the Army with a view to bringing culprits to book and putting an end to future error attacks in any part of the country.
He also restated his earlier calls for a State police, which he believed would complement the existing security arrangement.
Jibrin, in his remarks, said that senators would donate their salaries to the Tudun-Biri community, expressing empathy over the error attack on Tudun-Biri community.
In a statement on the visit by his Special Adviser Media and Publicity, Ismail Mudashir, Senator Barau said that the one month salary of each of the 109 Senators would be sent to the Governor for onward delivery to the victims.
The Deputy Senate President, who prayed to God to grant those who lost their lives paradise and wished the injured quick recovery, also said: “Let me state clearly that the Senate has been in contact with the President of this country. He is also highly disturbed and has ordered a thorough investigation of the incident.
“We are all on the same page with the executive arm of the government and we will continue to work in partnership to unravel what happened. We will also take measures to prevent this kind of unfortunate incident from recurring.
“We are here to show our solidarity and to show the fact that we stand by the people. We stand by the government and indeed the entire people of the state, particularly the people of Tudun Biri in this trying period. We will partner with you and do all within our power to bring succor to those who are affected by this unfortunate incident.
“It is on this note that I want to announce, on behalf of the President of the Senate and the entire Senate, that we have decided that we are going to donate our December salaries to the victims. A total of N109 million will be made available to the governor so that it can be channelled to help the victims.”
Responding, Governor Sani thanked the senators for their donation.
LP’s National Publicity Secretary, Obiora Ifoh, made the call in a statement yesterday, in Abuja.
LP said: “One week after the catastrophic mishap in Tudun Biri village of Kaduna state’s Igabi Local Government Area of Kaduna State, where some Muslim brethren gathered to observe the holiday celebrating the birthday of the Prophet Muhammad, which led to an untimely death of nearly 150 Nigerians, the Labour Party is calling on the government to publish the names of the dead and ensure that the family of the victims are well compensated.
“The party warned that bombing a target without precision and intel is anachronistic and cannot be deployed in modern warfare.
“It also wants the military, whether the Army or Air Force to assure Nigerians that such an annihilistic tactical approach to combat, that is capable of destroying unintended targets should be reviewed.
“Labour Party observes that the victims have been given a mass burial. And both the Federal and state government have sent their condolences to the victims’ families.
“We also gathered that a sum of N10 million was given by the military for the support of the burial.
“We, however, think that the government must pay adequate compensation to these families.
“Again, though the government has directed a thorough and full-fledged investigation into the incident, we think that any meaningful investigation can only be when the military, being the institution under investigation, is recused from the arrangement.
“We are very proud of the Nigerian military.
“They have shown gallantry in the battle against the insurgence, at least within the resources available to them. But we certainly frown at a situation where they turn their arms against their citizenry.”
