By : Lloyd Mahachi
A year ago, a tragic incident occurred in Tudunbiri, a village in northern Kaduna state, Nigeria. A drone strike by the Nigerian military killed at least 85 people, including many children, during a religious festival. The military admitted that the bombing was caused by “a failure of intelligence,” mistaking the festival for a gathering of jihadist fighters.
The incident happened on December 3, 2023, during the Maulud festival, which celebrates the birth of Prophet Muhammad. Thousands of people had gathered in the village for the celebration. The drone strike occurred around 10 pm, when the festival was in full swing. Many people were killed instantly, while others died from their injuries later.
Masud Abdulrasheed, an Islamic school teacher, lost his seven-year-old daughter Habeebah in the strike. He described her as “the most caring among my children.” Abdulrasheed was one of the organizers of the festival and saw many of his students killed. “We saw dead bodies all over the place as if they were sleeping. Body parts were strewn around the tree branches and rooftops.”
The survivors of the attack are still struggling to come to terms with what happened. Aisha Buhari, 20, lost three of her younger brothers and was injured in the attack. She struggles to use her left hand and relies on others for help. “There was no house or farm task I could not do before the incident, but now I can’t do anything properly.”
The Nigerian government has apologized for the incident and promised compensation to the victims’ families. However, many are still waiting for justice and proper compensation. The government has also built a new mosque in the village as a form of compensation. Despite this, the villagers are still grieving and seeking accountability for the tragic incident.
The incident has raised concerns about the use of drones in military operations. The Nigerian military has acquired new drones, including Chinese-built unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs). While these drones can be effective in combat, they also pose a risk to civilians if not used properly.
The Nigerian Air Force has admitted that the drone strike was a mistake. The military has promised to take steps to prevent such incidents in the future. However, for the villagers of Tudunbiri, the pain of the incident will take a long time to heal.
The villagers are still trying to rebuild their lives after the incident. Many have lost loved ones, and others have been injured. The village is still grieving, and the incident has left a deep scar. However, the villagers are determined to move forward and rebuild their community.
The incident has also raised questions about accountability and justice. The Nigerian government has promised to investigate the incident and hold those responsible accountable. However, many are still waiting for justice and proper compensation.
The villagers of Tudunbiri are still seeking answers and justice for the tragic incident. They want to know why the drone strike was carried out and who was responsible. They also want proper compensation for their losses and assurances that such incidents will not happen again in the future.
Editor : Josephine Mahachi
