Survivors of the recent airstrike that occurred in Tudun Biri, Igabi Local Government Area of Kaduna State, are still counting their losses following the ‘accidental’ bomb attack on the village, which claimed several lives.
According to many of them, they felt that day would be their last day on earth.
No fewer than 87 persons perished in the incident, according to official figures released by the state government.
The airstrikes were the latest in a series of military attacks that have erroneously killed civilians.
The bombs, according to several reports, dropped on people gathered for Maulud, a Muslim religious event, in the Tundun Biri community on Sunday.
Kaduna is among several states in the North-West region where criminal gangs, commonly referred to as bandits, kill, pilfer, and kidnap for ransom.
The Nigerian Army has since claimed responsibility for dropping the bombs and promised to clear the medical bills of the injured.
However, several of the survivors are asking for monetary compensation, as most of the victims were breadwinners of their families.
Burnt beyond recognition
A survivor and father to three of the victims, 38-year-old Ibrahim Yakubu, described the events of that day as most unfortunate, adding that he felt that last Sunday would be his last day on earth.
He disclosed that he lost his mother and two of his children, Khadija, 10, and Ahmad, seven to the bombing.
He stated, “The bomb also affected my wife. She just underwent surgery and lots of things were removed from her body. That was the first time that the aircraft dropped the first bomb. In the process of my mother going to rescue my wife, the second bomb was dropped and she was killed.
“Khadija’s (daughter) body could not be recognised. Many bodies, especially of children and pregnant women littered the ground. I could only recognise my daughter’s mangled body through her dress. I couldn’t even see her remains because she was torn into pieces.
“Some of the bodies, mostly children, were torn into pieces. Rescue operators had to use body bags to pack the pieces and bury them. As we speak, some people are still missing. My wife is currently receiving treatment at the Barau Dikko Teaching Hospital here in Kaduna.”
Asked how he escaped the attack, the father-of-five said he was preparing to join his family at the gathering when he heard people wailing, and this forced him to rush out of his house.
“I think my delay to join the crowd saved me from being killed too,” he added.
13 relatives gone
Another survivor, 50-year-old Aisha Haruna, claimed that it was only by providence that she escaped.
She said she was meant to be at the event but went to the state capital for an urgent engagement.
Haruna stated, “I almost fainted when I got the news that 13 of my family members had been killed.
“When I got home, I could not recognise the remains of some of them because their bodies were dismembered.”
Another survivor, Bello Ugara, 33, who is a native of Tudun Biri, described the entire episode as a nightmare.
Amid tears, he said he wished he was at the venue of the event so that he would die with his loved ones.
He stated that he lost his children, several orphans who lived under his roof, and his maternal relatives.
“Life no longer means anything to me now that my children are gone. I want to go with them,” he said, fighting tears.
30 relatives lost
For Idris Dahiru, 37, who lost no fewer than 30 members of his family, he wants those who attacked the innocent villagers to be prosecuted.
He described as unfortunate that the celebration of Prophet Muhammad turned bloody.
Another survivor, 65-year-old Nana, said the airstrikes affected her legs, adding that she was unsure if she would be able to use the legs again.
“There was a pregnant woman who died. The bomb affected my legs. I don’t know if I can walk again,” Nana added.
87 died – Gov
The Governor of Kaduna State, Uba Sani, has said the number of deaths recorded in the accidental bombing is 87 and not 127.
An Imam in Tubun Biri, Alhaji Ahmed Sanusi, had told The PUNCH earlier in the week that no fewer than 100 persons were buried on Monday, while 20 more bodies were recovered by the search team and buried on Tuesday.
The Imam added that as of Wednesday, another six bodies were recovered and buried, while another person died at the Barau Dikko Teaching Hospital, bringing the death toll to 127.
“Three days ago (Monday), we buried about 100; and on Tuesday, 20; and by Wednesday, we picked up six more and one person died in the hospital this morning,” Sanusi had said.
However, the governor while featuring on Channels Television’s Sunrise Daily on Friday dismissed the claim that 127 lives were lost in the incident.
According to him, the death toll just increased to 87 on Thursday when one person died in one of the hospitals taking care of the survivors.
Asked if the death toll had truly risen to 127, Sani retorted, “Probably, I am the only person dealing with the families directly – the parents, the victims, those in the hospital and those who are displaced in the community. As a government, it is my responsibility. I don’t think there is anyone more concerned than me, who is elected to protect the lives and property of the citizens.
“So, I don’t believe that I should be able to talk about figures that are not confirmed. What is confirmed as we are speaking right now, by the community and by the families I visited directly, is that we have lost 87 persons right now. Out of the 87 persons, 86 were killed at the beginning and we took 76 to the hospital. Out of the 76, one died. About four of them have been going through surgeries.”
While disclosing that the government was paying their hospital bills, Sani added that there were qualified health personnel taking care of the injured victims.
