Nigerian Army chief apologises as drone attack death toll put at 85

The Nigerian army has apologised over a drone attack that killed more than 80 people in a Kaduna community.

The army chief, Lieutenant General Taoreed Lagbaja, on Tuesday visited Tudun Biri village and apologised to members of the community for the Sunday incident.

Lagbaja said the incident occurred while the troops were conducting armed reconnaissance along Riyawa and Rimawa villages where the movement of suspected bandits was observed.

“Having trailed them for sometimes, the decision was taken to conduct a strike based on the observations of tactics usually employed by bandits,” he said.

“Unfortunately, the report we got thereafter revealed that it was innocent civilians in Tudun Biri that the drone carried out the strike on.”

The National Emergency Management Agency put the official death toll at 85 with 66 injured. Witnesses said more had died. Earlier reports said about 31 people died.

Reuters quoted witnesses who spoke of grief and shock after an annual Maulud Muslim celebration turned deadly.

Villagers first heard a loud blast after 9:00 pm, forcing them to scatter to safety. When the villagers realised it was a bomb explosion, they started helping the injured and moving the dead. Then, another blast was heard some 30 minutes later, killing more people, the witnesses said.

The district head of Rigasa, Aminu Idris, who received the army chief, described the drone attack as unfortunate, adding that people in the community had suffered attacks by bandits.

He said the army should compensate families of the victims.

Lagbaja donated N10 million for the upkeep of those receiving treatment. At a Kaduna hospital where the injured were receiving treatment, he promised to take care of their bills.