In a devastating incident, at least 85 people, including women and children, lost their lives in northwest Nigeria following a drone strike during a religious gathering. The strike, deemed a “mistake” by the army, also left 66 individuals injured, according to authorities.
The national emergency management agency has reported this as the latest in a series of attacks that have tragically claimed civilian lives. The incident occurred in Kaduna state during a religious gathering, as scores of people in the village of Tudun Biri were marking a Muslim holiday.
Nigerian President Bola Tinubu referred to the incident as a “bombing mishap” that was “very unfortunate, disturbing, and painful.” President Tinubu promptly ordered an investigation into the incident.
Military airstrikes, intended to suppress armed groups, have reportedly resulted in the deaths of approximately 400 civilians since 2017. The northwest and north-central states, including Kaduna, have been grappling with the challenge of kidnappings and killings by criminal gangs. In response, security forces have utilized aerial strikes to target these groups.
The tragic outcome of this drone strike underscores the complexities and risks involved in military operations, prompting urgent calls for a thorough investigation into the circumstances surrounding the incident.
