The Anglican Bishop of Wusasa Diocese, Zaria in Kaduna State, Most Rev. Buba Ali-Lamido, on Tuesday expressed deep grief over the accidental bombing at Tudun Biri village in Igabi Local Government Area of the state which claimed several lives.
The Nigerian Army had claimed responsibility for dropping a bomb on Tudun Biri which left no fewer than 85 villagers dead on December 3rd.
The cleric bemoaned an attempt by some religious groups to “mischievously” paint the incident as an agenda targeted at Muslims.
According to him, both Muslims and Christians were also killed during the unfortunate incident in which the Nigerian Army has since apologized for the accidental bombing of the village.
The Bishop in a statement released in Kaduna warned that any attempt to give the incident a religious colouration, would demoralise the nation’s armed forces in the renewed war against terrorists in the North.
He recalled that a similar incident occurred in 2017 when the Nigerian Air Force accidentally bombed the Rann IDP camp in Borno, claiming 250 lives which “didn’t witness this same hysteria that we are witnessing today.”
He said that every life was precious while noting that the death of Christians, Muslims and even of none adherents of both faiths, was without doubt painful.
“The Anglican Bishop of Wusasa Diocese, His Grace Most Reverend Dr. Buba Ali Lamido has expressed deep grief over the accidental bombing at Tudun Biri village in Igabi Local Government Area of Kaduna State that claimed over 85 lives and scores of injured people and worry at attempts by some religious groups to mischievously paint what was an accident as an agenda targeted at Muslims,” the statement read.
“For the avoidance of doubt, Muslims and Christians were killed in the attack, which the Nigerian Army has claimed responsibility and duly apologized for.
“We Northerners must be careful not to demoralize the armed forces in the renewed war against the terrorists because the war is far from over. We know for a fact that war is a very human endeavour, and mistakes inevitably will occur.
“We are aware of the 2017 multiple bombing of the Rann IDP camp in Borno State, by the Nigerian Airforce which killed over 250 people and we didn’t witness this same hysteria that we are witnessing today.
“I don’t want to conclude that the deafening silence then had to do with the fact that the president and service chiefs were all Muslims.
“Every life is precious. The death of Christians, Muslims and even of non-adherents of both faith, is without doubt painful.
“But when the outrage is targeted at the president, because he is from the South or service chiefs, because of their tribe and faith, we must condemn these narratives which have nothing to do with the sad loss.
“The lives of the poor must not only be important when we can use them to further our political agenda.”
The clergyman also appealed to Northerners, especially politicians eyeing the 2027 general elections to stop politicizing the incident he described as “clearly an innocent mistake.”