President Bola Tinubu has initiated an investigation into a tragic military air strike in Tudun Biri village, Kaduna State, resulting in the accidental death of at least 85 civilians.
The incident occurred during a Muslim festival as the army's drone, targeting armed groups, inadvertently struck the village. Describing it as "very unfortunate, disturbing, and painful," President Tinubu has ordered a thorough investigation and urged calm during the inquiry.
Presidential spokesman Ajuri Ngelale conveyed the President's grief over the loss of Nigerian lives and directed swift medical attention for surviving victims. While the army acknowledged the accidental strike, it did not provide casualty figures. Residents reported 85 casualties, predominantly women and children.
The military, terming it a routine mission inadvertently affecting the community, faces scrutiny as this incident ranks among the country's deadliest military accidents.
Nigeria's armed forces frequently deploy air strikes in battling bandit militias, particularly in regions plagued by jihadist activities for over a decade.
