The Nigerian Army has claimed responsibility for the bombing of villagers during a Maulud Nabiy celebration at Tudun Biriin in Igabi Local Government Area of Kaduna State.
It was earlier reported that over 30 villagers were feared dead in the bomb attack on Sunday.
But in a fresh development from The Leadership, dozens of villagers were killed and no fewer than 50 were injured in the incident.
A visit to the Emergency Department of Barau Dikko Teaching Hospital in Kaduna on Monday revealed that over 50 injured patients were being attended to while those with severe cases had been taken to the theatre for corrective surgeries. The majority of those injured were children and women.
A credible source who spoke to The Leadership from the local government area, who pleaded anonymity, confirmed that no fewer than 83 persons were killed when the bomb was dropped and exploded and gave the figure of those injured as 53.
As it stands now considering the condition of those injured as seen by our correspondent, there was apprehension that the death toll, which exact figure cannot be immediately authenticated, may increase with time.
The incident, which occurred around 9:00pm on Sunday night, was initially suspected to had been mistakenly carried out by the Nigeria Air Force (NAF) until a statement from the NAF headquarters stated that there was no operations carried out by its men in the past 24 hours in Kaduna State and environs emanated.
Meanwhile, the Kaduna State government, has reacted to the incident, affirming that the Nigeria Army has admitted to mistakenly carrying out the operation, which led to the death of the villagers.
A statement issued in Kaduna on Monday afternoon following a special security meeting, signed by the Overseeing Commissioner, Ministry of Internal Security and Home Affairs, Samuel Aruwan, noted that the State Government received briefings on the Sunday night’s attack, which left several citizens dead and others injured.
He said at the meeting presided over by the Deputy Governor, Dr Hadiza Sabuwa Balarabe, which had in attendance heads of security agencies, religious and traditional leaders, the Nigerian Army explained the circumstances which led to the unfortunate and unintended attack.
