THE apex body of Conference of Autochthonous Ethnic Nationalities Community Developments Association (CONAECDA), has expressed concern and called for caution over the religious coloration given by some sections of Nigerians to the Army bombing error that claimed the lives of over 100 people recently in Tudun-Birni of Kaduna State.
This was contained in a press statement signed by the Secretary General of CONAECDA, Suleiman A. D. Sukukum, and made available to SUNDAY STANDARD in Jos,the Plateau State capital recently following unprecedented attention given to the incident in some quarters.
The statement said, “We received with pains the recent collateral killing of over 100 citizens of Tudun Biri village of Kaduna State on 3rd December 2023. The bombing of the village which the Nigeria Army described as an error is one among many of such errors in the past 16 years of war against terrorists among which are the Boko Haram and the bandits or Yan-Bindiga terrorist groups.
“However, the error of Tudun Biri, appeared to be receiving an unprecedented attention due in part to the religious coloration that sections of the Nigerian public tried to portray. We are however compelled to plead for caution because we believe that there is more to the Tudun Biri error than what is obvious to the public.
“Igabi Local Government Area where Tudun-Biri is located, is one of the major hideouts of the Yan-Bindiga terrorists tormenting Kaduna, Plateau and Zamfara States. The error of Tudun Biri should not be used as an excuse to hinder the Nigerian Armed Forces from continuing their war against Yan-Bindiga terrorists across the nation and in Igabi Local Government Area”, it advised.
The association therefore, advocated that the compensation for lives lost in Tudun Biri should only be considered in the broader picture of the past, present and potential future mistakes, which was known to be a reality during wars and was technically called collateral damages, hence the need for the victims of Tudun Biri to not be neglected, but be supported to rebuild their lives.
The secretary, however said that “Championing the interest and rights of the victims of the Tudun Biri attack should not amount to neglecting the reality that millions of Nigerians, victims of the Yan-Bindiga Terrorist groups are living in despicable conditions due to government’s refusal to recognise the difference between Yan-Bindiga terrorism and the often-projected herders and farmers conflict.
“Despite the seeming connection between Yan-Bindiga Terrorists and the Fulani herders, the government needs to clearly recognise the fact that millions of Nigerians are victims of the activities of the YanBindiga Terrorists.
“It is high time the Federal, State Government and the international community recognised the activities of these terrorists and immediately commence a deliberate and comprehensive rehabilitation programme for victims.
“We are glad that for the first time, the Federal Government made an open pronouncement of its decision to rebuild the destroyed Tudun Biri community and provide it with modern amenities. This is a step in the right direction. However, previous victim communities and the hundreds of displaced communities should come first”, he observed.
