Scores have been reportedly killed in an air strike at Tudun Biri village in Igabi Local Government Area of Kaduna State, prompting the state government to convene an emergency security meeting.
The incident is said to have occurred around 9pm on Sunday.
According to one Nura MC Khan, commenting on his Facebook page, “The people were holding a Maulud procession when an aircraft appeared overhead and dropped bombs on them, killing many in the process. The number of casualties is yet to be ascertained.”
The Nigerian Air Force (NAF) is yet to confirm the attack, but a source told Channels Television that the villagers were mistakenly bombed with the intention that they were bandits who were migrating from neighboring Zamfara State to camp in Tudun Biri village.
The source further stated that the incident has created panic within the area as many residents have fled from the community to neighbouring villages for fear of being caught in more bomb attacks.
Reacting, the the Nigerian Air Force denied responsibility for the bomb dropped in Tudun Biri.
In a WhatsApp message sent to our defence correspondent, Air Force media officer, Air Commodore Edward Gabkwet, NAF noted that “the Nigerian Air Force has not carried out any air operations within Kaduna State and environs in the last 24 hours”.
He also noted that ‘the Nigerian Air Force isn’t the only Service operating combat armed drones in the region’.
Following the incident, an emergency security meeting has been convened by the Kaduna State government.
The meeting which is being chaired by the Deputy Governor, Dr Hadiza Balarabe, has in attendance the Air Officer Commanding Air Training Command of the Nigerian Air Force.
Also in attendance are the Garrison Commander of the One Mechanized Division of the Nigerian Army, the Kaduna State Commissioner of Police and the overseer of Kaduna State Ministry of Internal Security and Home Affairs, Samuel Aruwan.
