Vice President Kashim Shettima has arrived in Kaduna State to commiserate with the victims and families of last Sunday’s military air strike at Tudun Biri village in the Igabi Local Government Area of the state.
The visit is to offer support and assess the aftermath of the devastating air strikes mistakenly carried out by the Nigerian Army.
He was welcomed on arrival at the Nigerian Air Force base, Mando by Governor Uba Sani and top officials of the Kaduna State Government.
The Vice President was accompanied by the Minister Defence, Abubakar Badaru; the National Chairman of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Abdullahi Ganduje; Speaker of the House of Representatives, Tajudeen Abbass.
Shettima was earlier meant to visit the affected communities on Wednesday but decided to move his visit to Thursday.
The delegation will visit Barau Dikko Teaching Hospital to meet with victims and their families where some of the injured are recuperating.
A short statement by the vice president’s spokesman, Stanley Nkwocha, posted on X read:
”Vice President Kashim Shettima has arrived in Kaduna State to visit the victims and families affected by the recent military bombings in the state.
”Upon arrival, the Vice President who is in company of Governor Uba Sani and other high-ranking government officials will then proceed to the Barau Dikko Teaching Hospital, where he will meet with the victims of the air strikes and their families.
”It is hoped that his visit will help to bring comfort to the families of the victims and to get an on-the-spot assessment of the incident.”
Thursday’s condolence visit comes four days after the deadly airstrike that killed over 85 persons and injured several others in the North-Western state.
Sunday’s tragic incident has received condemnation from local and international watchdogs, all calling for investigations and a standardised review of procedural activities.
The Army has since taken responsibility for the accident with the Chief of Defence Staff (CDS), General Christopher Musa, during his visit apologising to the community over the matter, and promising to halt a repeat of such an incident.
