The 109 senators of the 10th senate have donated N109 million to the victims of a mistaken army air strike at Tudun Biri village in Igabi local government area of Kaduna State.
Recall that the Nigerian military had in an accidental air strike on Sunday December 3 killed many people in the village.
While there is no certainty about the casualty figures, available reports indicate that some 120 people were killed in the attack while another 60 were badly injured.
The deputy senate president, Mr Barau Jibrin, who led a delegation of the principal officers and senators on a condolence visit to the governor of Kaduna State, Mr Uba Sani at Sir Kashim Ibrahim Government House sympathised with the government and people of Kaduna on the tragic incident.
Sani who represented the senate president, Mr Godswill Akpabio, said the donation was for the welfare of the victims of the unfortunate air strike.
“It is on this note that I want to announce, on behalf of the President of the Senate and the entire Senate, that we have decided that we are going to donate our December salaries to the victims.
“A total of N109 million will be made available to the governor so that it can be channelled to help the victims,” Jibrin said.
The lawmaker also called for a thorough investigation into the military airstrike adding that the national assembly will work in partnership with the presidency to unravel the circumstances surrounding the accidental bombing of the Tudun Biri villagers to avert a recurrence.
“Let me state clearly that the senate has been in contact with the president of this country, who is also highly disturbed and has ordered a thorough investigation of the incident.
“We are all on the same page with the executive arm of the government and we will continue to work in partnership to unravel what happened and also take measures to prevent this kind of unfortunate incident from recurring.
“We are here to show our solidarity and to show the fact that we stand by the people, we stand by the government and indeed the entire people of the state, particularly the people of Tudun Biri in this trying period. We will partner with you and do all within our power to bring succour to those who are affected by this unfortunate incident,” he said.
Responding, Sani thanked the senators for their show of empathy for the victims of the airstrike and called on his former colleagues to support the federal government in probing the bomb incident.
“What I can say here today is that I am really happy with the level of support, level of empathy and solidarity by the people of this country, from Mr President and Vice President to the leadership of the Senate and the National Assembly generally, as well as the good people of Nigeria.
“I also want to make it clear today that here in Kaduna we have received this thing with shock, but unfortunately in the last few days, some people are trying to make it look like it is either an ethnic or religious issue. We are one family; there is no difference between Muslims and Christians in Kaduna. This incident can happen anywhere in Nigeria and is about humanity.
“What we are asking for is justice for the people of Tudun Biri who lost their lives and those in the hospital. I would like to also call on the National Assembly, particularly the Senate to join the Kaduna State Government and the good people of Nigeria in calling for a probe and investigation into this incident. I will also urge the members of the National Assembly to look at the laws that have to do with security agencies in Nigeria so that they can strengthen those institutions.
“What happened last week here in Kaduna could have been averted if the security agencies in Nigeria were working on the same page. They need to share intelligence,” the governor said.
