The Chief of Defence Staff, General Christopher Musa, has pledged that the Armed Forces of Nigeria will take decisive action against personnel found responsible for the accidental killing of 85 civilians in Tudun Biri, Igabi Local Government Area of Kaduna State. General Musa made this commitment during a press briefing in Abuja on Friday, emphasizing that severe punishment awaits those implicated in the incident following an independent investigation mandated by President Bola Tinubu.
Addressing reporters in his inaugural media interaction, General Musa expressed deep regret over the unfortunate event. He underscored the military’s primary responsibility to safeguard civilians, highlighting that the tragic incident occurred during the pursuit of bandits in the vicinity.
“The incident in Kaduna is highly regrettable; it should not have happened. Our mandate is to protect civilians, not to kill, maim, or destroy. At that particular time, we were in the heat of pursuing some bandits within that general area, and unfortunately, this happened,” General Musa stated.
Assuring the public of transparency and accountability, he asserted that the Armed Forces of Nigeria is dedicated to serving the nation. General Musa emphasized the military’s commitment to holding any officer accountable for their actions and encouraged Nigerians to await the findings of the investigation for a comprehensive understanding of the circumstances surrounding the incident.