Scores killed in Kaduna as military bombed villagers during Maulud celebration

Many villagers are feared dead in a community within Igabi Local Government Area of Kaduna State following a bomb reportedly dropped by a Nigerian Air Force (NAF) jet during a Maulud celebration at Tudun Biri, Daily Trust reports.

According to the paper, the details of the incident remain sketchy, adding that preliminary reports indicate that about 30 people died during the incident on Sunday, around 9:00 pm.

A former lawmaker, Senator Shehu Sani, had on Monday morning shared a post on his X handle indicating the incident occurred.

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According to Sani, “The translation of the post reveals that scores of people were killed yesterday by Ariel bombardment during a religious festival in a village near the Kaduna Airport. Clarification is needed CC @NigAirForce @DefenceInfoNG.”

However, residents who spoke said the bomb struck while the villagers gathered to commemorate Maulud.

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“They were celebrating Maulud (birth of Prophet Muhammad) when the jet dropped the bomb, resulting in the immediate death of more than 30 people,” a resident said.

The Commissioner of the State Ministry of Internal Security and Home Affairs, Samuel Aruwan, who did not provide casualty figures, stated that the government would address the media in a press conference at the Government House.

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“We will address the press at Government House on the situation because there would be a security meeting later. So, let’s meet by 10 am,” he said.

NAF has not made any statement as regards the incident at the time of filing this report.