Northern Group Calls For Sacking Of Defence Chief, Army Chief Over Bombing Of Civilians In Kaduna

The Arewa Action Group for Good Governance, a northern group, has called for the immediate resignation of the Chief of Defence Staff, Gen Christopher Musa, and the Chief of Army Staff (COAS) Lt. Gen. Taoreed Lagbaja or be sacked by President Bola Tinubu over the bombing of unarmed civilians in Kaduna State.

SaharaReporters reported on Monday that the Nigerian military on Sunday killed scores of Muslims celebrating the birthday of Prophet Muhammad (Maulid Nabiyy) in the state.

It was gathered that the Muslim worshippers were killed by an aerial bombardment.

The army had said the airstrikes were targeting terrorists.

However, the Arewa group on Tuesday condemned the bombing of unarmed civilians in Tudun Biri, while alleging that the action of the Nigerian Army has cast a shadow on the human rights rating of the Nigerian Army.

The group, in a statement signed by Moses Saleh and made available to the press, accused the Chief of Defence Staff, Gen Christopher Musa, of conniving with the Nigerian Army to cause havoc in communities in Kaduna State.

The group said the Chief of Defence Staff sanctioned the action of the Nigerian Army without the involvement of the Nigerian Air Force, the service responsible for air operations.

The statement read in part; “There are questions surrounding the attack by the Nigerian Army. It is inexcusable that such a blunder could be done. The Nigerian Army is an infantry regiment, and even with some air components and capabilities, it is still suspect that they could mistake a group of worshipers for terrorists. Where is the place of intelligence gathering?

“If this wasn’t intentional, we wonder what else because a situation where the Nigerian Army would undertake air operations without the involvement of the Nigerian Air Force is suspect, and the result is what is before us. Hundreds of innocent lives have been lost and hundreds of others with varying degrees of injuries.”

“We have every doubt that the action of the Nigerian Army is a vendetta mission. There are no two ways about it. On the strength, it happened in a community in Kaduna State, where the Chief of Defence Staff hails from. We understand that some intrigues played out regarding his appointment as Chief of Defence Staff.

“Unfortunately, the Chief of Army Staff allowed himself to be involved in such illegality. If indeed the intent was aimed at terrorists, why was the Nigerian Air Force not involved? These are questions that must have answers. The number of lives wasted because an individual feels entitled to use state power as he deemed necessary is a sad commentary.

“We call for the sack of the Chief of Defence and Army Staff. This is unacceptable. Nigerians must not be at the mercy of the security agencies who are constitutionally mandated to protect lives and properties and preserve the country’s territorial integrity.”

“We are calling on the President and Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces to take decisive action in the overall interest of Nigerians. We are tempted to believe that scores of such incidences might have occurred in other parts of the country and gone unnoticed.”