Senator Uba Sani, Kaduna State Governor, said there is no ethnic or religious cleansing in the state following the accidental bombing of Tudun Biri village in Igabi Local Government Area by the Nigerian Army.
The governor disclosed this during an interview, on Friday, on Channels Television’s Sunrise Daily.
Sani’s reaction comes five days after the tragic incident that caused the death of over 85 people and left several others injured.
He stated, “Let me make it clear (that) in Kaduna State, we don’t have any religious or ethnic differences.
“At the beginning, a lot of people particularly the religious and ethnic merchants, I’m not surprised if some of them decided to make this issue look like it’s a religious issue. As governor of Kaduna State, we are working together as a team in religious harmony.”
According to the governor, the Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN) led a delegation to the Kaduna State Government House to sympathize with the state government and the Tudun Biri village over the unfortunate incident.
The sunday tragic incident has received condemnation from both local and international watchdogs, all calling for investigations and a standardised review of procedural activities.
The Nigerian Air Force (NAF) was quick to absolve itself of responsibility for the incident.
The Nigerian Army had claimed responsibility for the bombing incident.
General Christopher Musa, the Chief of Defence Staff (CDS), during his visit, apologised to the community over the incident, promising to halt a repeat of such an event.
“My assessment of that unfortunate incident of Sunday, December 3, 2023, is that it is grave, regrettable. We will do everything possible to prevent such an occurrence from happening again in the conduct of our operations going forward.”
Both the Federal and Kaduna State governments have ordered a full investigation into the incident.
The Kaduna incident occured months after the fatal airstrike on Kwatiri, a Nasarawa village, which left over 85 people dead and many others injured in the January 24 incident.
Earlier, Vice President Kashim Shettima visited the state on a condolence visit to the affected community.
Shettima, who was accompanied by the governor and other top-ranking government officials, guaranteed that FG is determined to punish anyone found culpable in the incident, saying a thorough probe has been launched in the wake of the incident.
Shettima said, “It is already directed by Mr. President, an investigation is being conducted to prevent a re-occurrence of the incident, and we expect a report to be submitted in the shortest possible time.”
The vice president also pledged that the victims of the incident would be supported by the federal government.
“There is no gain in dwelling too much on this incident that has happened. I am here because the President is deeply concerned; he was deeply touched by what happened.
“Let’s not talk about the numbers, one life lost in cold blood is as gruesome as millions lost in a pogrom. The heart of the President is with the bereaved families.
“We were at the hospital to sympathise with the victims and be rest assured that the Federal Government stands by the community affected and the government and people of Kaduna State on this unfortunate incident.”
He also assured that the Federal Government under President Bola Tinubu’s administration is committed to the total eradication of banditry and terrorism in the Northern region and other parts of the country.